InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

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 InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

Contents
Chapter 1 WindowMaker: Your Development Environment ........................................... 9
About Your Development Environment ....................................................................................... 9
Setting Your WindowMaker Preferenc es................................................................................... 10
Using the Screen Grid and Ruler.............................................................................................. 12
Snapping Objects to the Grid ............................................................................................. 12
Using The Ruler ................................................................................................................ 12
Panning and Zooming ............................................................................................................. 13
Using the Thumbnail Window to Pan and Zoom .................................................................. 13
Using the Mouse Wheel to Zoom and Pan .......................................................................... 14
Pan and Zoom Limitations ................................................................................................. 14
Managing Toolbars ................................................................................................................. 15
Using the Application Explorer ................................................................................................. 16
Navigating in the Application Explorer ................................................................................. 16
Adding Applications to the Application Explorer ................................................................... 17
Using Color Palettes ............................................................................................................... 17
Opening the Color Palette.................................................................................................. 17
Creating Custom Colors..................................................................................................... 18
Importing and Exporting Custom Colors .............................................................................. 19
Setting Font Defaults ............................................................................................................... 19
Using Full Screen Mode .......................................................................................................... 20
Windows Dialog Box Features ................................................................................................. 20
Mouse Short Cuts ................................................................................................................... 20
Moving Objects with the Arrow Keys ........................................................................................ 21

Chapter 2 Application Windows......................................................................................... 23

About Application Windows ..................................................................................................... 23
Creating Application Windows.................................................................................................. 24
Setting an Application Window as a Template Window ........................................................ 25
Creating an Application Window from a Template Window ................................................... 25
Importing Windows Using XML Utility ................................................................................. 27
Importing and Exporting Windows ............................................................................................ 27
Setting Windows to Appear at Run Time ................................................................................... 27
Modifying Application Windows ................................................................................................ 27
Opening, Saving, and Closing Windows ................................................................................... 27
Viewing a Thumbnail Preview of a Window ............................................................................... 28
Duplicating Windows ............................................................................................................... 29
Deleting Windows ................................................................................................................... 29

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Printing Information about InTouch Windows ............................................................................ 30

Printing Windows Information from a Command Prompt ............................................................ 31
.CSV Format for Printing Windows ..................................................................................... 31
Syntax for Printing from a Command Prompt....................................................................... 32
Working with Frame Windows .................................................................................................. 32
Using the Properties Grid................................................................................................... 34
Working with Graphics Embedded in Frames ...................................................................... 34

Chapter 3 WindowMaker Objects ..................................................................................... 37

About WindowM aker Objects ................................................................................................... 37
Simple Objects ....................................................................................................................... 37
Creating Lines and Shapes ................................................................................................ 38
Creating Buttons ............................................................................................................... 38
Creating Polylines and Poly gons ........................................................................................ 38
Creating Text .................................................................................................................... 39
Complex Objects .................................................................................................................... 39
Cells and Symbols............................................................................................................. 40
About Cells ................................................................................................................. 40
About Symbols ............................................................................................................ 40
Grouping Objects to Cells .................................................................................................. 40
Grouping Obj ects to Symbols ............................................................................................. 41
Common Manipulations ........................................................................................................... 41
Selecting Objects .............................................................................................................. 41
Moving Objects ................................................................................................................. 42
Aligning Objects ................................................................................................................ 43
Layering Objects ............................................................................................................... 43
Cont rolling Horizont al and V ertical Spacing ......................................................................... 44
Flipping Objects and Cells ................................................................................................. 44
Resizing Objects ............................................................................................................... 44
Rotating Objects ............................................................................................................... 45
Changing Text Appearance................................................................................................ 45
Changing Lines and Outlines ............................................................................................. 46
Changing Fill ..................................................................................................................... 46
Deleting Objects................................................................................................................ 46
Undoing Changes ............................................................................................................. 47
Special Manipulations for All Objects ........................................................................................ 47
Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Objects ................................................................................ 47
Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Object Links ......................................................................... 48
Duplicating Objects ........................................................................................................... 48
Special Manipulations for Special Objects................................................................................. 48
Reshaping Polyline and Polygon Objects ............................................................................ 49
Working with Bitmap Containers ......................................................................................... 49
Defining Bitmap Transparency ........................................................................................... 51
Changing the Radius of a Rounded Rectangle .................................................................... 51
Substituting Object Text ..................................................................................................... 52
Printing Window Information about WindowMaker Objects ................................................... 52

Chapter 4 Animating Objects ............................................................................................. 55

About Animating Objects ......................................................................................................... 55
Two Types of Animation Links ................................................................................................. 55

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Data Display Animations.......................................................................................................... 55

Creating Value Displays..................................................................................................... 56
Creating Movement ........................................................................................................... 57
Creating Rotation .............................................................................................................. 58
Animating Sizes ................................................................................................................ 59
Animating Colors ............................................................................................................... 61
Animating Fill Levels.......................................................................................................... 63
Making Objects Blink ......................................................................................................... 64
Enabling Visibility .............................................................................................................. 65
Disabling Objects .............................................................................................................. 66
Configuring ToolTips ......................................................................................................... 67
Positioning a Touch-Sensitive Window ............................................................................... 67
$ObjHor System Tag ................................................................................................... 68
$ObjVer System Tag ................................................................................................... 69
Data Entry Animations ............................................................................................................. 69
Enabling Discret e Input ...................................................................................................... 70
Enabling Analog Input ....................................................................................................... 71
Using References for the Minimum and Maximum Limits of an Analog Input Animation .... 71
Enabling String Input ......................................................................................................... 72
Enabling Sliders ................................................................................................................ 73
Enabling Push Buttons ...................................................................................................... 74
Opening and Closing Windows........................................................................................... 76
Configuring On-Screen Key boards ..................................................................................... 76
DialogStringEntry() Function ........................................................................................ 77
DialogValueEntry () Function......................................................................................... 78
Common Animation Tasks ....................................................................................................... 79
Selecting Tags or Attributes ............................................................................................... 79
Selecting an InTouch Tag ............................................................................................ 80
Selecting an Arc hestrA Object Attribute......................................................................... 80
Creating a Tag Filter .................................................................................................... 81
Changing the View in the Select Tag Dialog Box ........................................................... 82
Creating Key board Shortcuts ............................................................................................. 83
Changing Tagname References ......................................................................................... 83
Converting Placeholder Tags ............................................................................................. 84
Advanced Formatting for Text ............................................................................................ 84
Formatting Text Objects as Numbers ............................................................................ 86
Examples of Formatting Text Objects as Numbers ......................................................... 86

Chapter 5 Wizards ............................................................................................................... 89

About Wizards ........................................................................................................................ 89
Working with Wizards .............................................................................................................. 89
Types of Wizards .............................................................................................................. 90
Adding Wizards to the Toolbar ........................................................................................... 90
Pasting Wizard Instances .................................................................................................. 91
Configuring Wizards .......................................................................................................... 91
Performing Standard Operations on Wizards....................................................................... 91
Installing and Removing Wizards........................................................................................ 91
Trend Objects ......................................................................................................................... 93
Windows Controls Wizards ...................................................................................................... 93
Creating and Configuring Windows Controls ....................................................................... 94
Creating a Text Box........................................................................................................... 94
Creating a List Box ............................................................................................................ 95

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Creating a Combo Box ...................................................................................................... 96

Creating a Check Box........................................................................................................ 96
Creating a Radio Button Group .......................................................................................... 97
Scripting Windows Controls ..................................................................................................... 98
Getting or Setting the Value of a Control ............................................................................. 98
.Value Dotfield............................................................................................................. 99
Enabling or Disabling a Cont rol for User Input ................................................................... 100
.Enabled Dot field ....................................................................................................... 100
Hiding Windows Controls Dynamically .............................................................................. 100
.Visible Dotfield ......................................................................................................... 101
Adding and Deleting Items in Combo Boxes ...................................................................... 101
wcAddItem() Function ................................................................................................ 102
wcIns ertItem() Function.............................................................................................. 102
wcDeleteItem() Function ............................................................................................ 103
wcDeleteSelection() Function ..................................................................................... 104
wcClear() Function .................................................................................................... 104
Loading and Saving List Items From or To a File ............................................................... 104
wcLoadList() Function ................................................................................................ 105
wcSaveList() Function................................................................................................ 106
Finding Items In a Combo Box or List ............................................................................... 106
wcFindItem() Function ............................................................................................... 106
Working with Item Indexes in a Combo Box or List ............................................................ 107
.TopIndex Dotfield ..................................................................................................... 108
.NewIndex Dotfield .................................................................................................... 108
.ListIndex Dotfield ...................................................................................................... 109
Counting List Box or Combo Box Items ............................................................................. 110
.ListCount Dotfield ..................................................................................................... 110
Getting or Setting the Value of a List Item ......................................................................... 110
wcGet ItemData() Function ......................................................................................... 111
wcSetItemData() Function .......................................................................................... 111
Getting the Name of a List Item ........................................................................................ 112
wcGet Item() Function ................................................................................................ 112
Loading the Contents of a Text Box .................................................................................. 113
wcLoadText() Function .............................................................................................. 113
wcSaveText() Function .............................................................................................. 113
Checking If a Text Box is Read-Only ................................................................................ 114
.ReadOnly Dotfield .................................................................................................... 114
Getting or Setting the Label of a Check Box ...................................................................... 115
.Caption Dot field........................................................................................................ 115
Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages ............................................................ 115
wcErrorMessage() Function ....................................................................................... 116

Chapter 6 ActiveX Controls .............................................................................................. 119

About ActiveX Controls.......................................................................................................... 119
Using ActiveX Controls .......................................................................................................... 120
Configuring ActiveX Controls ................................................................................................. 121
Naming ActiveX Controls ....................................................................................................... 121
Standard Operations on ActiveX Controls ............................................................................... 122
Installing and Removing ActiveX Cont rols ............................................................................... 122

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Index ....................................................................................................................................... 124

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 InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

C HAPTER 1
WindowMaker: Your Development
Environment
In This Chapter
About Your Development Environment ............................................................................................. 9
Setting Your WindowMaker Preferenc es ........................................................................................ 10
Using the Screen Grid and Ruler ................................................................................................... 12
Panning and Zooming ................................................................................................................... 13
Managing Toolbars ....................................................................................................................... 15
Using the Application Explorer ....................................................................................................... 16
Using Color Palettes ..................................................................................................................... 17
Setting Font Defaults .................................................................................................................... 19
Using Full Screen Mode ................................................................................................................ 20
Windows Dialog Box Features ....................................................................................................... 20
Mouse Short Cuts ......................................................................................................................... 20
Moving Objects with the Arrow Keys .............................................................................................. 21

About Your Development Environment

WindowMaker is the development environment you use to create InTouch applications.
The main parts of the development environment are:
 Toolbars and status bar
 Classic view, which shows the scripts and tools.
 Project view, which shows the windows and scripts in a different format.
 Development area
 Fast switch buttons that open WindowViewer and the Web Client
 Boundary canvas to show the application within the specified target resolution if different than your
screen resolution. Border style is not configurable.

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WindowMaker: Your Development Environment InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

The following graphic shows WindowMaker work areas:

Setting Your WindowMaker Preferences

Using the WindowMaker Properties dialog box, you can configure preferences and options affecting the
behavior of WindowMaker. You can:
 Change the title bar text.
 Display the grid or turn off the grid.
 Change the spacing bet ween the pixels on the grid.
 Show the tag count.
 Change the default fonts for text and buttons.
 Set the precision for line selection.
 Set an option to close WindowMaker when switching to WindowViewer.
 Set an option to pick through hollow objects.
 Enable fast switch from WindowMaker to WindowViewer.
 Set the number of undo levels.

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WindowMaker: Your Development Environment InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

To set the properties for WindowMaker

1. On the Special menu, point to Configure and then click WindowMaker.The WindowMaker
Properties dialog box appears.

2. In the WindowMaker Title Bar area, configure the appearance of the title bar. Do any of the
following:
o In the Title Bar Text box, type the text to appear in the title bar during design time.
o Select the Show Application Directory check box to include the path to the application folder in
the title bar.
3. In the Grid Configuration area, configure the background grid. Do any of the following:
o In the Spacing box, type the number of pixels bet ween the grid coordinates.
o Select the Show Grid check box to show the grid.
4. Configure miscellaneous window properties. Do any of the following:
o Select the Show Tag Count check box to show the number of tagnames in your Tagname
Dictionary in the menu bar. If you have a lot of tags, showing the tag count can impact the
Tagname Dictionary performance.
This is useful if you are creating an application with a limited Tagname Dictionary size. The
tagname count does not include remote tagname references or system tags. Click Update Use
Counts on the Special menu to find out your remote tagname reference usage.
o Select the Close on Transfer to WindowViewer check box to close WindowMaker
automatically when you start WindowViewer.
The purpose of this option is to conserve limited memory. If memory is not an issue and you are
moving often between WindowViewer and WindowMaker, do not select this option.
When you select Close on Transfer to WindowViewer, the reciprocal command, Close
WindowViewer, on the General Properties tab in the WindowViewer Properties dialog box is
also selected.
o Select the Pick Through Hollow Objects check box to select objects that are behind hollow
objects.
This enables you to select an object within a frame without having to send the frame to the
background.

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WindowMaker: Your Development Environment InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

o Select the Enable Fast Switch check box to use the "fast switch" to toggle between
WindowMaker and WindowViewer.
The fast switch is the word Runtime that appears in the upper right corner of WindowMaker. In
WindowViewer, it is the word Development.
When you use the fast switch, WindowMaker automatically saves all changes made to all open
windows before switching to WindowViewer.
o In the Line Selection Precision box, type the number of pixels your cursor can be away from a
line and still be able to select it.
In most cases, the default setting of 4 works well.
o In the Level s of Undo box, type the number of Undo and Redo levels to maintain.
You can have up to 25 levels. If you type zero, the undo/redo function is turned off.
One level represents one action. The Undo and Redo stacks are empty when you create a new
window or open an existing window. Both stacks are emptied when you close a window.
5. In the Configure Fonts area, click either Text or Button to set the default text font or button font.
Select the font default, and then click OK.
You can override these defaults in any window by using the Font toolbar.
6. Click OK.
7. Restart WindowMaker to apply any changes you made.

Using the Screen Grid and Ruler

You can show a grid and ruler in the Development area to help you arrange and align objects.

Snapping Objects to the Grid

You can make your objects snap to predefined grid points by selecting Snap to Grid.
By default, the grid is set to 10 pixels and to be visible when you start WindowMaker. You configure the
pixel interval for the grid in the WindowMaker Properties dialog box.
To see the grid, you must select Show Grid on the WindowMaker Properties dialog box and select
Snap to Grid on the Arrange menu.
To configure the grid
1. On the Special menu, point to Configure then click WindowMaker. The WindowMaker Properties
dialog box appears.
2. In the Spacing box, type the number of pixels to space bet ween coordinates.
3. Select the Show Grid check box if you want to see the grid when Snap to Grid is selected.
If you do not select Show Grid, no grid is visible in your windows when you select Snap to Grid.

Using The Ruler

Use the rulers for precision alignment of the objects in your windows. The rulers appear ac ross the top
and along one side of your development environment window.

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WindowMaker: Your Development Environment InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

To show or hide the rulers

1. On the View menu, click Ruler.
2. Repeat the step to hide the ruler.

Panning and Zooming

You can zoom in and out get a better look at the elements that you are editing to ens ure objects line up
exactly or are positioned correctly.
The Pan and Zoom toolbar appears by default at the bottom right of the screen. It can be floated or
docked in other locations, like the other toolbars.
If y ou have specified a target resolution that is different than your screen resolution, the boundary ca nvas
will adjust accordingly upon panning or zooming.
You can:
 Zoom in and out from 100% to 500%.
 Zoom to a specific area with the rubber band tool.
 Zoom the window to a specific percentage.
 Click and drag to pan the window.
 Return to the normal default view.
To show or hide the Pan and Zoom toolbar
 On the View menu, click Pan and Zoom.
See the InTouch HMI Applic ation Management and Extension Guide for information about panning and
zooming at run time.

Using the Thumbnail Window to Pan and Zoom

When you zoom in to a detail of your application window, the thumbnails window shows you the
relationship of the detail to the whole application.
The Thumbnail s window gives you both an overview and a detail of the development area.
Show or hide the Thumbnail s window by clicking the Thumbnails button.
A red rectangle is the boundary of the zoomed area within a window.

 Drag the red rectangle to show a different part of the window.

 Click on a different area of the window to move the rectangle to that area.
 Resize the rectangle to change the zoom level of the display area.

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WindowMaker: Your Development Environment InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

The thumbnail view shows a white rectangle for objects that you cannot zoom in on, such as an ActiveX
control.
If you have specified an application target resolution that is different from your screen resolution, the
boundary canvas outlining your specified target resolution dimensions will also appear in the thumbnail
view.

Note: Application windows exceeding t he dimensions of the target resolution boundary will still appear in
the thumbnail view as seen in the example above.

Using the Mouse Wheel to Zoom and Pan

If your mouse has a wheel, you can press the CTRL key and roll the wheel to change the zoom level of
your image.
 As you roll the mouse wheel, each click changes the zoom level by 20%.
 You can also place the cursor in the InTouch window and press t he mouse wheel to navigate within
the window. When you press the mouse wheel, an icon with four arrows appears. Move the mouse to
navigate in the window.

Pan and Zoom Limitations

Panning and zooming do not apply to the following controls:
 ActiveX cont rols
 The Distributed Alarm Object
 The 16 Pen Trend
 Text boxes
 Check boxes
 List boxes
 Combo boxes

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WindowMaker: Your Development Environment InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

 Radio Group objects

If one of these controls is in the visible area when the view is zoomed more than 100%, a rectangle with
the name of the control appears in the area occupied by the cont rol.

Managing Toolbars
You can show or hide any of the toolbars from the View menu.
You can move any toolbar from its default docked position to any other location within the development
window. Floating toolbars have title bars and they allow you to change their size.
When you start WindowMaker, all toolbars are shown.
You can float or dock a toolbar by dragging it. When you show a docked toolbar that was hi dden, it
reappears in its last docked location in the window.
To show or hide a toolbar
 On the View menu, click the toolbar name.
To change the size of a floating toolbar
1. Move the cursor over any edge of the toolbar. The cursor changes to a double -ended arrow.
2. Drag the edge of the toolbar to move and resize the toolbar.
As you move the cursor, a box appears to indicate the size the toolbar when you release the mouse
button.
To hide all toolbars at once
 On the View menu, click Hide All.

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WindowMaker: Your Development Environment InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

Using the Application Explorer

The Application Explorer has two views: Cla ssic View and Project View. These views show you bot h
your InTouch application windows and the tools available to you. Like other toolbars, they can be opened
or closed, docked or floating. The Classi c View and Project View can be docked vertically, but not
horizontally. The Wizards/ActiveX t oolbar can be docked horizontally, but not vertically.

These views give you access to all application windows, scripts, configuration menus, the Tagname
Dictionary, and wizards.
Do not add WindowViewer (view.exe) to the Application Explorer. The proper way to start
WindowViewer is by clicking WindowViewer on the File menu, or by clicking the Runtime fast switch in
the toolbar.

Navigating in the Application Explorer

You can expand or collapse the folders in either of the Application Explorer toolbars.
The Applications view shows other installed applications.
To expand or collapse the Application Explorer folders
1. Double-click a folder or icon to expand and show the group members.
2. Double-click on a member to open that member.

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WindowMaker: Your Development Environment InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

Adding Applications to the Application Explorer

The WindowMaker Application Explorer can start other applic ations from within WindowMaker. For
example, you can run an I/ O Server and configure it at the same time that you are developing your
application. You can start third-party programs such as Windows Notepad, Wordpad, Microsoft Excel,
Microsoft Word, Microsoft Paint and so on.
You can also configure the Application Explorer to open a specific file such as a document or
spreadsheet.
To add a new application to Application Explorer
1. In the Tool s pane of the Cla ssic view, right-click Applications, and then click New.The Application
Properties window appears.

2. In the Name box, type the name of the application.

3. In the Command Line box, enter the full path for the application. Click the ellipsis button to browse
for the application.
You can add command line parameters for the application in the Command Line box.
4. In the Start S tyle list, click how you want the application to appear when it starts up.
5. Click OK. The application is added to the Application Explorer under Applications. You can now run
the application at any time from WindowMaker.

Using Color Palettes

You can use color palettes to apply color to static and dynamic properties of lines, rectangles, round
rectangles, ellipses, polylines, polygons and text. You can select the background color for your windows
and the transparent color for bitmaps that enable you to view objects behind bitmaps.
The palette offers you a wide range of color s elections, up to 16.7 million colors. The available colors may
be limited by your video card capability.
You can also:
 Define and add custom colors.
 Import custom color palettes created in other Windows applications.
 Export your palettes to other Windows applications.

Opening the Color Palette

The color palette appears whenever you click a colored square in a dialog box or you click one of the
color tools to apply line, fill, or text color to a selected object.

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WindowMaker: Your Development Environment InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

To open the color palette

1. Click a colored square in a dialog box. The Standard Palette appears.

2. Click the right arrows to access the classic colors.

3. Click the color to use. The color palette closes and the color you selected is applied.

Creating Custom Colors

You can create a palette of custom colors.
To create a custom color
1. Open the color palette.
2. In the Custom Palette area, right-click one of the blank squares and then click Edit Custom Color.
The Add a Color dialog box appears.

3. Do any of the following:

o Click anywhere in the color display and us e the slider to adjust the color. To specify that you want
100% of the color with no white or black, press ALT + O.
o Type values in the Red, Green and Blue boxes to define a color. Y ou can experiment with these
values by observing the color matrix. Notice the values for hue, saturation and luminosity also
change.
o Type values in the Hue, Sat,and Lum boxes to define a color. As you change any of these
values, the red, green, and blue scales change to match.
Hue is a discrete color value, where 0 is red, 60 is yellow, 120 is green, 180 is cyan, 200 is
magenta, and 240 is blue.
Saturation is the amount of color in a specified hue, up to a maximum of 240.
Luminosity is the brightness of a color.

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WindowMaker: Your Development Environment InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

4. View the resulting color in the Color|Solid box.

If your monitor is set to display 256 colors, the Color|Solid box might show t wo colors. The right side
shows how the selected color appears as a solid color. The left side shows the dithered color, or the
approximation of the specific color using two of the 256 colors.
5. Click OK.
You can also create custom colors using the eye dropper tool.

Note: Us e this feature for creating transparent bitmaps.

To select a custom color with the eye dropper tool

1. Open the Color Palette.
2. Right -click one of t he blank squares in t he Custom Palette section at the bottom of the color palette.
3. Click the eye dropper tool and then click the color that you want to add.

Importing and Exporting Custom Colors

If you defined a custom color palette, you can export it from an InTouc h application and then import it into
another InTouch application.
To import a custom palette
1. Open the color palette.
2. Click the Custom Palette down arrow.
3. Click Load Palette. The standard Windows Open dialog box appears.
4. Locate and select the .pal palette file with the color definitions you want.
5. Click Open. The colors contained in the palette file are loaded into the Custom Palette.
To export a custom palette
1. Open the color palette.
2. Click the Custom Palette down arrow.
3. Click Export Palette. The standard Windows Save As dialog box appears.
4. Specify the name for the palette file and click Save.

Setting Font Defaults

You can set font defaults for text objects and button objects that have text.

Tip:You can override these defaults in any window by using the toolbar to customize window or button
text.

To set the font defaults

1. On the Special menu, point to Configure and then click WindowMaker.The WindowMaker
Properties dialog box appears.
2. In the Configure Fonts area, click either Text or Button to set the default text font or button font.
Select the font default, and then click OK.
You can override these defaults in any window by using the Fonts t ool in the Format toolbar.
3. Click OK.

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Using Full Screen Mode

Full screen mode hides all program elements except open windows and floating toolbars.
To toggle full screen mode on or off
 On the View toolbar, click the Full Screen button to switch from normal to full screen mode.
The View toolbar changes to the Re store toolbar automatically, and floats on top.

Windows Dialog Box Features

When you are opening, saving, closing, deleting or duplicating windows using the File menu, the names
of all the windows that are valid candidates for the selected command appear in a list.

Tip:Click Details to change from the list view to the details view. The details view includes any
Comments you made for the window in the Window Properties dialog box.

To view the windows and details in a multi-column format

1. Click the Details button. A dialog box appears, showing the list of windows.

2. Select a window, click on the window a second time to clear it.

o To select all windows, click Select All.
o To clear all windows, click Clear All.
o To open selected window(s), click OK.

Mouse Short Cuts

Use the following short cuts to open dialog boxes and do other common tasks.
To access menu commands for items in WindowMaker
 Right -click on the item. Items include graphic objects, folder names in the views, and so on.
To open the Animation Links dialog box
 Double-click an object or symbol.

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WindowMaker: Your Development Environment InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

To open the Select Tag dialog box (Tag Browser)

 Double-click a blank expression input field within a link definition dialog box. The Select Tag dialog
box appears.

To access the tag dotfields

 In any Tagname or Expression input box, type a tagname plus a period, then double-click to the right
of the period. You can also type just a period and double-click to the right of it. The Choose field
name dialog box appears showing all tagname dot fields.
To open a tagname definition in the Tagname Dictionary
 Double-click the tagname.

Moving Objects with the Arrow Keys

In WindowMaker, you can use the arrow keys to move a selected object or group of objects.
When moving objects with the arrow keys, how far an object moves depends upon whether or not the
grid is showing.
When the grid is showing, how many pix els an object moves depends upon the grid spacing, which is set
on the WindowMaker properties dialog. The default setting is ten pixels between grid points.
When the grid is showing:
 Pressing an arrow key moves the object one grid point.
 Pressing SHIFT + an arrow key moves the object two grid points.
 Pressing CTRL + an arrow key moves the object four grid points.
When the grid is not showing:
 Pressing an arrow key moves the object one pixel.
 Pressing SHIFT + an arrow key moves the object ten pixels.
 Pressing CTRL + an arrow key moves the object 50 pixels.

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C HAPTER 2
Application Windows
In This Chapter
About Application Windows ........................................................................................................... 23
Creating Application Windows ....................................................................................................... 24
Importing and Exporting Windows .................................................................................................. 27
Setting Windows to Appear at Run Time ........................................................................................ 27
Modifying Application Windows ...................................................................................................... 27
Opening, Saving, and Closing Windows ......................................................................................... 27
Viewing a Thumbnail Preview of a Window..................................................................................... 28
Duplicating Windows ..................................................................................................................... 29
Deleting Windows ......................................................................................................................... 29
Printing Information about InTouch Windows .................................................................................. 30
Printing Windows Information from a Command Prompt .................................................................. 31
Working with Frame Windows........................................................................................................ 32

About Application Windows

An application window is a container for one or more graphics that model your production processes. For
example, you can have a window that shows equipment in a unit. Another window can show a grid of
alarm information related to that unit.

You can create any number of windows and you can define window properties such as background
color, screen position, window title, and so on.

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Application Windows InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

Creating Application Windows

When you create a new application window, the default settings reflect those of the previously created or
of the currently active InTouch window. The following settings will reflect those of the previously created
window:
 Window names: can have up to 32 characters and can include any character on the keyboard except
quotation marks. When you create a window, you are only required to provide a window name. All
other items are optional.
 Comments: can be included for a window, but is for information purposes only. The comment
appears in file listings but is not used by the application.
 Window dimension values: by default, the window dimension values are set to the dimensions of the
previously created window. These values are also automatically modified if you manually change the
window size by dragging the window border.

Note: If you have specified an application target resolution that is different than your screen resolution,
your application windows can exceed the canvas boundary. However, only windows within the target
resolution canvas boundary will display at Run Time.

To create a new window

1. On the File menu, click New Window. The Window Properties dialog box appears.

2. Configure the basic window properties. Do the following:

o In the Name textbox, type a unique name that identifies the window.
o In the Comment textbox, type any comments you want to associate with the window. The
comment must be 50 characters or fewer.
o Click the Window Color button to select the background color for the window.
3. Configure the Window Type to see how the window opens at run time.
o Select the Window Type as Replace for the window to automatically close any windows it
intersects with when it appears on the screen.
o Select the Window Type as Overlay for the window to appear on top of currently open windows.
It can be larger than the wi ndow(s) it is overlaying. When an overlay window closes, any
windows behind it reappear. Clicking on any visible portion of a window behind an overlay
window brings that window to the foreground as the active window.
o Select the Window Type as Popup for the window to always stay on top of all other windows.
Popup windows usually require a response from the user to be removed.
4. Configure Frame Style for the window to display a border around the window.
o Click Single for a single, one-dimensional border.
o Click Double for a three-dimensional bordered window.
o Click None for a window with no border.

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Application Windows InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

5. Select the Size Control s check box to enable users to resize a window in WindowMaker.
6. Select the Title Bar check box to include a title bar.
7. Select the Close Button check box to include a button on the title bar to close a window at design
time or run time. Windows retain the close window button even after they are exported to other
applications.
8. In the Dimensions area, specify the window location and dimensions. Do the following:
o In the X Location box, type the number of pixels bet ween the left edge of the design area and
the left edge of the window being defined.
o In the Y Location box, type the number of pixels bet ween the top edge of the design area and
the top edge of the window being defined.
o In the Window Width and Window Height boxes, type the window width and height in pixels.
9. Click OK.

Setting an Application Window as a Template Window

You can set an application window to be a template window using the Window Properties. This will allow
you to reuse windows and reduce configuration time.
To set an application window as a template window:
1. Open the Window Properties dialog box by doing one of the following:
a. Click File, New Window
b. Right click an existing application window
2. Select the Template checkbox in the Window Properties dialog box.

3. Click OK.
The window now appears in the Template Windows folder under the Windows & Scripts pane. It is
also available in the Template Windows Browser.

Note: You can change a template window back to an application window by unchecking the Template
checkbox in the Window Properties dialog box. You can also drag and drop windows between the
Templat e Windows folders to change this property.

Creating an Application Window from a Template Window

You can create an InTouch application window from any of the template windows available in the
Templat e Windows Browser.
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Application Windows InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

Note: Only windows with the Template property selected will be a vailable in the Template Windows
Browser. See Setting an Application Window as a Template Window on page 25 for the detailed
procedure.

To create an application window from a template window:

1. Launch the Template Window B rowser by doing one of the following:
a. Click File, New Window from Template.
The Template Window Browser appears.
b. Click File, New Window.
c. In the Window Properties dialog box, click the Templates button next to the Name box.

The Template Window Browser will appear.

2. Browse the templat e window thumbnails and select your window.

Note: Each template window is shown in thumbnail view by default. The window thumbnails are shown
proportional to the actual window location in design time with respect to the whole application.

3. Click OK.

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Application Windows InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

The Window Properties dialog box will appear again. All of the template window pro perties will be
populated except the window name.
4. Click OK.

Importing Windows Using XML Utility

You can add the close button script to the XML script while importing a window using the XML utility.

Note: The windows that you want to import are specified in the batch file (wm.bat).

<CloseButton>True</CloseButton>
If your XML file contains this script, the window you import will have the close window button on the title
bar.

Importing and Exporting Windows

You can import and export windows and their contents from one InTouch application to another. For
more information, see Exporting and Importing Tag Definitions, Windows, and Scripts in the InTouch
HMI Application Management and Extension Guide.

Setting Windows to Appear at Run Time

"Home" windows are windows that appear in WindowViewer when the user starts WindowViewer
directly, either from an icon or a menu command.
Home windows do not appear if you use the Runtime fast switch to start WindowViewer.
You can show home windows at any time during run time by using the ShowHome() function in a script.
To set home windows
1. On the Special menu, point to Configure and click WindowViewer. The WindowViewer Properties
dialog box appears.
2. Click the Home Windows tab.
3. Select the window or windows to open when WindowViewer starts.
4. Click OK.

Modifying Application Windows

When developing your application, you can modify the properties of windows at any time.
To modify properties of an application window
1. Right click on the window name in the Project view, and click Properties. The WindowProperties
dialog box appears.
2. Make your changes. For more information about the window options, see Creating Application
Windows on page 24.
3. Click OK.

Opening, Saving, and Closing Windows

While developing your application, you can open as many windows as your computer memory supports.

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Application Windows InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

Opening a Window
To open a window
1. On the File menu, click Open Window. The Windows to Open dialog box appears listing the names
of all windows in your application.
2. Do either of the following:
 To open a single window, double-click the window name.
 To open multiple windows, select the check boxes for the windows to open and then click OK.
When you save a window, all graphics, QuickScripts, properties, and so on associated with the window
are also saved.
Saving a Window
To save a window
1. On the File menu, click Save Window. The Windows to Save dialog box appears, listing the names of
all windows.
2. Select the windows that need to be saved.
3. Click OK.
When you close a window that has been modified, you are prompted to save your changes .
Closing a Window
To close a window
1. On the File menu, click Close Window. The Windows to Close dialog box appears listing the names
of all currently open windows.
2. Select the check box next to the window name.
3. Click OK.

Viewing a Thumbnail Preview of a Window

You can view the thumbnail preview of a window in WindowMaker. This is especially useful if you have
an application with many windows. You can then view the thumbnail preview of a window to check if it is
the right one before opening it.
You can view the thumbnail preview of a window in the Project view only. The thumbnail preview is
available and updated only after you have saved a window. If you migrate an application or import a
window from an XML file, you can view the thumbnail preview without having to explicitly save the
window. If you import a window from another application, you can view its thumbnail preview without
having to explicitly save the window. However, if you have modified the window after i mporting it, you
must save it to view the changes in the thumbnail.
You can also updat e the thumbnail of all windows in an InTouch application. You must close all windows
before you can update the thumbnail.
To update the thumbnail of all windows
1. On the Special menu, click Update All Window Thumbnails. A confirmation message appears.

Note: You can also update the thumbnail of a particular window by right -clicking the window, and then
clicking Update Thumbnail.

2. Click Continue. The thumbnail of all windows in the InTouch application is updated.

Note: The system will open and close all windows to update the thumbnail.

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To view a thumbnail preview of a window

1. Open WindowMaker.
2. Open an application and save a window.
3. Move the pointer over the rectangle area that covers the window name and the associated icon. The
thumbnail preview appears.

Duplicating Windows
When you have very similar proc esses to simulate and control, you may want to duplicate a window and
then customize it for a secondary process or unit.
You can duplicate windows with all graphics, QuickScripts, properties, and so on, associated with the
window.
Before you start, the window that you want to duplicate must be open and saved at least one time. You
can only duplicate one window at a time.
To duplicate a window
1. On the File menu, click Save Window As. The Window to save under new name dialog box
appears, listing the names of all currently open windows.
2. Select the check box next to the window name.
3. In the New Name box, type a name for the new window.
4. Click OK.

Deleting Windows
To conserve computer storage space, or if the list of windows in the Application Explorer becomes too
long to manage, you can delete unused windows.

Caution: Make sure you delete the correct window. You cannot restore a delet ed window with Undo.

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To delete a window
1. On the File menu, click Delete Window. A dialog box appears listing the names of all windows.
2. Select the window name you want to delet e and click OK. When the message appears, click Yes.
3. Click OK.

Printing Information about InTouch Windows

You can print the following information for InTouch windows:
 Details for the graphical objects placed in a window. For example, the window loc ation for all types of
objects, the font used for a text object, the custom properties defined for an ArchestrA Symbol, and
so on.
 Details about the animation links used in a window.
 Scripts associated with a window.
 Tags used in a window.
You can print details for graphical objects to either a printer or an .html file. An .html file is created for
each window. The .html file contains:
 A picture of the window as a referenced .png file.
 A listing of details about eac h graphical object in the window.
If you print graphical object details for multiple windows, a summary .html file is created that has links to
the window-specific .html files.
For animation link, script, or tag details, you can print to either a printer or a .txt file.
To print information about InTouch windows
1. Open an InTouch application in WindowMaker.
2. On the File menu, click Print. The WindowMaker Printout dialog box appears.

3. Select Windows.

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4. Select the windows to print:

o All prints the information for all windows in the application, including names of any embedded
graphics.
o Selected prints only the information for specific windows, including names of any embedded
graphics on the selected windows. The Windows to Print dialog box appears. Select the
windows in your application you want to print and click OK.
o Batch prints only the information for windows specified in a .cs v file, including names of any
embedded graphics.
For details on the .csv format, see .CSV Format for Printing Windows on page 31.
5. Select what you want printed for the selected windows:
o Image/Graphics prints the information about all of the graphic objects placed in the windows.
o With Link Details prints the link details for the windows.
o Window Scripts prints the scripts associated with the windows.
o Database entries used in window prints the tags used in the windows.
6. Click Next. The Select Output De stination dialog box appears.
7. Do one of the following
o Click Send output to Printer to print the information.
o Click Send output to Text File to create a single .txt file.
o Click Send output to HTML File to create a summary .html file and a single .html file and .png
file for each window you specified. If .html and .png files exist, they are aut omatically overwritten.
8. Click Print.

Printing Windows Information from a Command Prompt

You can print window information from a command prompt. To do this, you create a .csv file t hat contains
the window names and then reference the .cs v file in the print command.
When the print command runs, WindowMaker automatically opens the default InTouch application,
performs the print operation, and then closes. Printing from a command prompt only works for
stand-alone InTouch applications.
To print window information from a command prompt
1. Create the .cs v file that contains the names of the windows to print.
For details on the .csv format, see .CSV Format for Printing Windows on page 31.
2. Exit WindowMaker and close the .csv file.
3. Open a command prompt.
4. Type the command to print the information.
For details on the command syntax, see Syntax for Printing from a Command Prompt on page 32.
5. Press the Enter key. WindowMaker starts and prints the information.

.CSV Format for Printing Windows

You ca use a .csv file t o use your window information t o multiple formats, such as Microsoft Excel. Create
a single row in a .cs v file and include each window name separated by a comma:
Window1,Window2,Window3,WindowN

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For example:

If you use Microsoft Excel to create the file, there should be one row, with the name of each window in
each column cell of the row.
You cannot use the backslash character (\ ) in a window name.
You must use a comma and not any other separator.

Syntax for Printing from a Command Prompt

The command syntax is:
"<WindowMaker path name>" COMMANDFILE="<CSV file>" ALL OUTPUTTARGET=<target
name>
where:
<WindowMaker path name> is the path to the WindowMaker application (WM.exe).
o <CSV file> is the name of the .csv file that specifies the windows to print.
o <target name> is output location, either to a printer or .html file.
o ALL is the command to print all link, database entry, and script information. If you do not include
the ALL command, only graphical object information prints.
In this example, all link, databas e entry, and script information is sent to the default printer:
"C:\Program Files\Wonderware\InTouch\wm.exe" COMMANDFILE="D:\print.csv"
ALL OUTPUTTARGET = PRINTER
In this example, graphical object information is sent to an .html file:
"C:\Program Files\Wonderware\InTouch\wm.exe" COMMANDFILE="D:\print.csv"
OUTPUTTARGET = HTML <DEMOAPP.html>

Working with Frame Windows

If you are working in a Modern or Managed InTouch application, you can create and develop frame
windows in addition to or in place of application windows. Frame windows enable you to host ArchestrA
Graphics that can support pan, zoom and touch capabilities.
Frame windows support most of the same properties as application windows. However, several
limitations apply.
Frame windows do not:
 support multiple ArchestrA Graphics
 host native InTouch controls

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Application Windows InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

 host ActiveX cont rols

 host SmartSymbols
 support undo/redo actions for window components
 flip or rotate actions for an embedded symbol
 support cut, copy, paste or duplicate operations
 provide cross reference support for ArchestrA Graphics embedded in frame windows
 support window conversion to ArchestrA symbols
 support creating new instances, editing instances or selecting alternate instances of embedded
automation object graphics
To create a frame:
1. From WindowMaker, click File, New Window.
The Window Properties dialog box appears wit h an checkbox for Modern Frame.

2. Select Frame.
3. Configure other frame properties and click OK.

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Using the Properties Grid

You can edit frame properties directly from the Properties Grid on the right of the WindowMak er canvas.
The frame properties will populate in the Properties Grid upon creating the window:

The ArchestrA Graphic Toolbox and the Properties Grid appear to the right of the canvas by default. You
can dock the Graphic Toolbox or the Properties Grid to the left side of the canvas. To restore
WindowMaker to the default, click View, Restore Layout.

Note: Application window properties will not populate in the Propertie s Grid.

Frame windows support the same properties as application windows, with three additional properties.
They are described below.
See Creating Application Windows on page 24 for a full description of each window property.

Frame Property Functionality

MaximizeButton Enables the Maximize button in the upper right of the frame.
Default is False.
MinimizeButton Enables the Minimize button in the upper right of the frame.
Default is False.
WindowState Displays the initial state of the window: Normal, Minimized or
Maximized.
Default is Normal.
Changes to the frame properties will immediately reflect in the frame, with the exception of the
FrameStyle property. To configure this property, the SizeControl and TitleBar properties must first be
set to False.
The FrameStyle dropdown menu will become enabled.

Working with Graphics Embedded in Frames

ArchestrA Graphics can be embedded in frame windows the same way as application windows.

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Application Windows InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

Do either of the following to embed a symbol in a frame:

 drag an ArchestrA symbol from the Graphic Toolbox and drop it onto the frame

 select Embed ArchestrA Graphic toolbar button and brows e for a graphic
 embed graphics using the context menu from the frame window
You can aut omatically fit a frame to an embedded ArchestrA symbol. To fit the frame to the embedded
symbol, right click the window select Fit to Symbol.
The frame will resize to fit the symbol:

Note: Undo is not supported for Fit to Symbol. If you manually change the dimensions of the frame
window or changes the Size property, you need to perform the Fit to Symbol action again.

When you embed an ArchestrA symbol in the frame, the symbol will populat e in the Propertie s Grid
dropdown menu as shown below:

You can toggle between the frame window and symbol properties. Do any of the following:
 Select the symbol or frame window name from the dropdown menu
 Right -click on the window frame and select Window Properties.
 Click the title bar or frame border to display frame window properties in the grid
Click on the embedded symbol to display the symbol properties.
You must configure the symbol properties to enable pan and zoom functionality using keyboard, mouse
and touch gestures. The configurable symbol properties are listed below.

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Symbol Property Functionality

MaintainAspectRatio Maintains the symbol's aspect ratio when the modern frame is
resized. Default is True.
SymbolName Sets the symbol name being hosted by the modern frame
InteractionMode Sets the interaction mode. Options are:
o None: disables Pan and Zoom
o PanZoom: default, enables Pan and Zoom
ShowZoom Control Shows the symbol and Zoom control. Options are:
o Auto: control is shown as required
o Visible: control is always shown

For details on using pan and zoom capabilities at run time, see the InTouch HMI Application
Management and Extension Guide.

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C HAPTER 3
WindowMaker Objects
In This Chapter
About WindowMaker Objects......................................................................................................... 37
Simple Objects ............................................................................................................................. 37
Complex Objects .......................................................................................................................... 39
Common Manipulations ................................................................................................................. 41
Special Manipulations for All Objects ............................................................................................. 47
Special Manipulations for Special Objects ...................................................................................... 48

About WindowMaker Objects

Graphical objects are the key parts of the human machine interface (HMI) applications you build.
As you build your applications, you create simple objects, combine simple objects to make more complex
objects, and use some pre-defined complex objects.

As you build your applications, you create simple objects, combine simple objects to make more complex
objects, and use some pre-defined complex objects.
You can use ArchestrA Symbols created with the ArchestrA Symbol Editor in your managed or
Advanced InTouch applications. You can also add ArchestrA symbols directly from WindowMaker’s
ArchestrA Graphic Toolbox. For more information about working wit h ArchestrA and Situational
Awareness Level symbols, see the Creating and Managing ArchestrA Graphics User’s Guide or
WindowMaker help.

Simple Objects
You can create the following types of simple objects:
 Lines
 Shapes
 Text
 Buttons
Each simple object has attributes that control how it appears:
 Line color and weight

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WindowMaker Objects InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

 Fill color
 Height
 Width
 Orientation

Creating Lines and Shapes

The following table describes how to do basic drawing tasks. The dra wing buttons are located on the
Drawing toolbar.

To draw this Click thi s Button

Line Line button

Horiz ontal or vertical line H/V Line button

Rectangle Rectangle button

Rectangle with rounded Rounded Rectangle button

corners
Note: To adjust the radius of the rounded
rectangle corners, see Changing the
Radius of a Rounded Rectangle on page
51.

Circle or an ellipse Ellipse button. Press and hold the SHIFT

key to draw a circle.

Creating Buttons
You can use buttons to create points of int eraction with your application. The process is very similar to
creating simple drawing objects.
For information about creating polygons, see Creating Polylines and Polygons on page 38.
To create a button

1. On the Drawing toolbar, click the Button button.

2. Click and drag to place and size the button.
3. Edit the default button text. Do the following:
a. Right -click the button and click Substitute Strings.
b. In the New String box, type the text for the button.
c. Click OK.

Creating Polylines and Polygons

Drawing polylines is slightly different than drawing lines.
To create a polyline or polygon
1. On the Drawing toolbar, click the Polyline or Polygon button.

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WindowMaker Objects InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

2. Click on the application window to set the first point.

3. Click on the application window again to set more points to define your polyline or polygon.
4. Double click the last point.

Creating Text
You can use text to label vis ual items in your application.
When you create text, the text formatting settings match those set in the WindowMaker Propertie s
dialog box. You can change the appearance of selected text. For more information, see Changing Text
Appearance on page 45.
When you type multiple lines of text, they become objects which can be moved and edit ed
independently. You can also combine text objects into a symbol and edit them as a group.
To create text
1. On the Drawing toolbar, click the Text button.
2. Click the place for the text to start.
3. Type your text and press ENTE R. A new line of text appears.

Complex Objects
Complex objects provide more functionality than simple objects. The following table describes the
different types of complex objects.

Complex Object Description

Cell A group of two or more objects, including symbols or other cells, that are
joined together to form a single unit. You can use cells to create virtual
devic es such as slide controllers.
Cells are useful for creating multiple devices to be associated with
different tags.

Symbol A group of simple objects, such as lines, shapes, and text, that joined
together and treated as a single object. Any attribute change applied to a
symbol affects all the component objects of a symbol. Symbols cannot
contain bitmaps, buttons, cells, wizards, or trends.

SmartSymbol An InTouch cell that has been converted into a reusable graphic
template. You can place one or more instances of a SmartSymbol
template in your application windows. Any change to a template
propagates to the instances. For more information, see About
SmartSymbols in the InTouch® HMI SmartSymbols Guide.

Arche strA S ymbol A highly versatile graphic created using the Symbol Editor in the
ArchestrA Int egrated Development Environment (IDE). For more
information, see About InTouch HMI and ArchestrA Integration in the
InTouch® HMI and ArchestrA® Integration Guide.

Bitmap Container Objects that enable you to import images such as photographs,
drawings, and screen shots.
You can rotate a bitmap and you can give it a transparent background.
For more information, see Work ing with Bitmap Containers on page 49.

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Complex Object Description

Trend Objects Charts of real -time or historical data value changes of multiple tags over
time. For more information, see Trend Objects on page 93.

Wizard Pre-built object that you only need to select, place, and configure for your
application.
For more information, see Wizards on page 89.

Acti veX Control Software component that runs within your application. WindowMaker
supports both Wonderware and third-party ActiveX controls. For more
information, see Using ActiveX Controls on page 120.

Cells and Symbols

You can combine multiple objects into two different types of single units: cells and symbols. A cell can
contain any object. A symbol can only contain simple objects. Symbols cannot contain cells.
To find out if a specific object is a cell or a symbol, double-click the object.
 A cell opens, either the Substitute Tagnames dialog box, or if the cell doesn’t contain tagnames, the
Substitute Names warning message appears.
 A symbol or simple graphic object opens the Animation Links Selection dialog box.

About Cells
Use a cell to combine and maintain a fixed spatial relationship among multiple elements. You can also
use a cell to move multiple elements around and align wit h other graphic al elements.
To change the elements of a cell, you must break the cell, change the elements, and then combine the
elements into a cell again.
You can animate elements of a cell but you cannot animate a cell. You also cannot resize a cell.

About Symbols
You can animate a symbol and simple objects. You can also use a symbol to animate parts of a complex
graphic.
You cannot make a symbol if more than one of the selected objects has links.
If you combine two symbols into a new symbol, the original symbol structure is lost. If you break the new
symbol, it is broken into the individual components of each original symbol. The two original symbols are
lost.

Grouping Objects to Cells

You can combine symbols, bitmaps, trends, buttons, wizards and other cells into a cell. If you include a
symbol in a cell, all animation links associated with that symbol remain intact.
After you use a cell in a SmartSymbol, if you break the SmartSymbol, you cannot resize the cell.
To create a cell
1. Select the objects that you want to include.
2. On the Arrange menu, click Make Cell.

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WindowMaker Objects InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

To break a cell
1. Select the cell.
2. On the Arrange menu, click Break Cell.

Grouping Objects to Symbols

Symbols cannot contain bitmaps, buttons, cells, wizards or trends. If one of the selected objects has
animation links attached to it, the links are attached to the new symbol.
To create a symbol
1. Select the objects that you want to include.
2. On the Arrange menu, click Make Symbol.
To break a symbol
1. Select the symbol.
2. On the Arrange menu, click Break Symbol.

Common Manipulations
Right -click an object to see a menu showing the valid commands or actions you can apply to that object.
You can:

 Select objects  Move objects

 Align objects  Arrange objects
 Layer objects  Undo changes
 Flip objects  Flip symbols
 Resize objects  Rotate objects
 Change font  Change line or outline
 Change fill  Delet e objects
 Cont rol horizont al and
vertical spacing

Selecting Objects
You must select an object before you can modify it. When you select an object, handles appear on the
perimeter of the object. You can use these handles to resize and/or reshape the object.

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To select all objects in the active window

 On the Edit menu, click Select All, or press F2.
To select an object
 Click the Select Mode button and click the object you want to select.
To un-select an object
 Click a blank area of the window.
To select multiple objects
 Click the Select Mode button, select the first object, then SHIFT+click the other objects.
To select a group of objects
 Click the Select Mode button and drag a box around the objects. All the objects that are completely
within the rectangle are selected.
To un-select a specific object or objects from a group of objects
 SHIFT+click the object.

Moving Objects
You can move objects by:
 Dragging them.
 Using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
 Typing window coordinates in boxes in the status bar.
When you are moving an object, notice how the coordinates in the status bar change.
To move an object by dragging
 Select the object and drag it.
When moving objects with the arrow keys, how far an object moves depends upon whether or not the
grid is showing.
When the grid is showing, how many pix els an object moves depends upon the grid spacing, which is set
on the WindowMaker properties dialog. The default setting is ten pixels between grid points.
When the grid is showing,
 Pressing an arrow key moves the object one grid point.
 Pressing SHIFT + an arrow key moves the object two grid points.
 Pressing CTRL + an arrow key moves the object four grid points.
When the grid is not showing,
 Pressing an arrow key moves the object one pixel.
 Pressing SHIFT + an arrow key moves the object ten pixels.
 Pressing CTRL + an arrow key moves the object 50 pix els.
To move an object with the Arrow keys
 Select an object and
o press an arrow key.
o SHIFT + press an arrow key.

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o CTRL + press an arrow key.

To move an object with the status bar
1. Select the object.

2. Type the X and Y coordinates in the status bar.

3. Press Enter.

Aligning Objects
You can align objects by their left or right edges, centers, center points, tops, middles, or bottoms.
Using the menu commands or the buttons, you can align in several ways.

Select Or click To do thi s

Align Left Align left edges of the objects with the left edge of the
object farthest to the left.

Align Center Align objects with the vertical center line of the group.

Align Right Align right edges of objects with the right edge of the object
that is farthest to the right.

Align Tops Align top edges with the top edge of the highest object.

Align Middle Align horizontal cent ers with the middle of the group.

Align Bottom Align bottom edges with the bottom edge of the lowest
object.

Align Center points Align center points with the center point of the group.

To align objects
1. Select multiple objects.
2. On the Arrange menu, point to Align and click the appropriate align command.

Layering Objects
You can position objects in front of or behind ot hers.
To position an object behind another object
1. Select the objects(s).
2. On the Arrange menu, click Send to Back.
To position an object in front of another object
1. Select the objects(s).
2. Do one of the following:
o On the Arrange toolbar, click Bring to Front.

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WindowMaker Objects InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

o On the Arrange menu, click Bring to Front.

o Press SHIFT+F9.

Controlling Horizontal and Vertical Spacing

You can space objects horizontally between the left most selected object and the right most selected
object.
You can also control the vertical spacing bet ween the top most selected object and the bottom most
selected object.
To space objects horizontally or vertically
1. Select the objects.
2. On the Arrange Toolbar, click Space Horizontally or click Space Vertically.

Flipping Objects and Cells

You can flip most objects horizontally or vertically. You can flip objects singly or in groups.
When you flip an object, you trans form it to its mirror image. You cannot flip text.

When you flip cells, they are not mirrored. Only the position of the cell in the group of objects is mirrored.

Compare the location of the cells before and after they are flipped. The position is flipped, not the
contents.
To flip an object or a cell
1. Select the object(s).

2. On the Arrange toolbar, click Flip Horizontal or click FlipVertical.

Resizing Objects
You can resize an object using two met hods. You can drag it or specify an exact width and height.
If snap to grid is turned on, the object snaps to the grid during the proportional resizing operation. The
result is a slight deviation in the ratio between vertical to horizont al size. To avoid this deviation, turn off
the snap to grid.
To resize an object by dragging
1. Select the object and then position the point of the arrow cursor in the center of a handle.
2. Drag the handle to resize the object.
To resize an object by proportional resizing
 Select the object and SHIFT+drag.

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WindowMaker Objects InTouch HMI Visualization Guide

To resize an object by dimensions

1. Select the object.

2. Type the width and height dimensions in the W, H boxes on the status bar.

Rotating Objects
You can rotate most objects including symbols, text, and bitmaps. You cannot rotate cells.
You can rotate objects clockwise or counter clockwise 360 degrees in 90 degree increments.
Rotating objects in WindowMak er has nothing to do with dynamically rot ating objects at run time or in
WindowViewer. You rotate objects in WindowViewer by linking them to an orientation animation.
To rotate an object
1. Select the object(s).

2. On the Arrange toolbar, click Rotate Clockwise or click Rotate Counter Clockwi se.

Changing Text Appearance

You can set the appearance of fonts before you create text by setting defaults in advanc e or you can
change the appearance of fonts aft er you create them. For information about setting font defaults, see
Setting Font Defaults on page 19.
The text justification attribute settings are important for text objects showing dynamic values. The
justification determines how fields of varying length appear at run time.
For example, if you are showing a numeric value at the end of a text string that is centered or is right
justified, the entire text string, including the value, is centered or justified eac h time there is a change in
the number of digits shown.
Using the menu commands or the buttons, you can configure text in several ways.

To Click Button

Change the font, style, color, or Font

text size

Make the text bold Bold

Make the text italic Italic

Make the text underlined Underline

Reduce or enlarge font size Reduce Font or Enlarge

Font

Change the justification Left Justified, Centered, or

Right Justified

To configure the text appearance

1. Select the text object.

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2. On the Text menu, click the appropriate text command.

Changing Lines and Outlines

You can change the color and either the pattern or width of lines or outlines around outlined objects.
Outlined objects include filled shapes such as ellipses, rectangles, and polygons, as well as bitmaps and
other import ed images.
Wider lines take longer to draw in run time. D ashed and dotted lines can only be one pixel wide.
To set the line appearance default settings
1. Click a blank area of the window.
2. On the Line menu, select the line width or pattern.

3. On the Format toolbar, click the Line Color tool.

4. Select a color.
To change the color of a line
1. Select a line, a group of lines, or an object with an outline.

2. On the Format toolbar, click the Line Color tool.

3. Select a color.
To change the style or width of a line or outline
1. Select the object.
2. On the Line menu, click the line style or width.
To remove an outline
1. Select the object.
2. On the Line menu, click No Line.

Changing Fill
Filled shapes include shape surrounded by a line. Examples of filled shapes are rectangles, rounded
rectangles, circles, ellipses, and polygons.
To change the fill color of an object
1. Select the object.
2. On the Format toolbar, click the Fill Color tool.
3. Select a color.
To set the default color for filled shapes
1. Click a blank space on the window.
2. On the Format toolbar, click the Fill Color tool.
3. Select a color.

Deleting Objects
You can delete one or more objects.

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To delete an object
 Do either of the following:
o Right -click the object and click Erase.
o Select the object and then press Delete.

Undoing Changes
WindowMaker records your editing and formatting changes for each window. By default, WindowMaker
supports 10 levels of undo/redo, where one level represents one action. You can set WindowMaker to
retain up to 25 levels of actions. You can also turn off undo/redo by setting the undo/redo level to zero.
If you close the window, all recorded actions are cleared.
To undo a command
 On the Edit menu, click Undo.
To redo a command
 On the Edit menu, click Redo.
To set the number of undo/redo levels
1. On the Special menu, point to Configure, and then click WindowMaker. The WindowMaker
Properties dialog box appears.
2. In the Level s of Undo box, type the number of levels.

Special Manipulations for All Objects

You can modify and manipulate simple objects. You can:
 Cut, copy, and paste objects.
 Cut, copy, and paste object links.
 Duplicat e objects.

Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Objects

Cut, copy, and paste operations in WindowMaker are much the same as in other Windows based
applications but there are some significant differences you need to be aware of.
When you cut, copy, or paste an object, attributes and animation links are also cut, copied, or pasted with
it.
All pasted objects remain selected after being pasted and you can move them to adjust their location.
To cut an object
 Right -click the object and then click Cut.
To copy an object
 Right -click the object and then click Copy.
To paste an object
1. Right -click a blank space in the window and click Paste. The cursor changes to a corner symbol.
2. Hold down the left mous e button. The cursor changes to a dotted rectangle the size of the copied
object.
3. Drag the rectangle to locate the object.

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4. Release the mouse button.

Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Object Links

The Clipboard is a temporary storage area for links you cut or copy.
 The Clipboard only stores the links for your most recent cut or copy action.
 You can paste the links to any object or symbol that supports the links in the Clipboard.
 If a pasted link is not supported by the object, for example, a line color link on a text object, the link is
not pasted.
 If you select multiple objects for pasting, the links are pasted to all objects.
To cut, copy, paste and clear links
 Right -click the object, point to Links and click the appropriate command.

Duplicating Objects
Duplicating objects is similar to copying objects and their animation links, but has the advantage of also
duplicating the offset distance and direction when the objects are duplicated more than onc e.
When you move a duplicat ed object without un-selecting it, then duplicate it again, the third iteration is
offset the same distance and direction bet ween the first two iterations.
You can repeat this procedure as many times as necessary.
To duplicate an object
1. Right -click the object and click Duplicate. The object is copied and pasted to an offset position from
the original object.

2. Keeping the duplicated object selected, drag it to a different position.

3. Again, without un-selecting the duplicated object, right click the object and click Duplicate again.
The third iteration of the object appears in the same relative position as the first two.

Special Manipulations for Special Objects

The following object types have unique attributes that you can edit:
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 Polylines and polygons

 Bitmap containers
 Bitmap transparencies
 Rounded rectangles
 Object text

Reshaping Polyline and Polygon Objects

You can adjust the shapes of polylines and polygons.
To reshape a polyline or polygon
1. Select the object.
2. Do one of the following.
o On the Edit menu, click Reshape Object.
o Right -click the object and click Reshape Object.
o On the Arrange toolbar, click the Reshape Object button.
Each shape definition point becomes a handle.
3. Drag a handle to reshape.
To add a point to a polygon
1. Select the object.
2. Do one of the following.
o On the Edit menu, click Add Point.
o Right -click the object and click Add Point.
3. Click on an edge of the polygon, then drag the point to change the shape of the polygon.
To delete a point from a polygon
1. Select the object.
2. Do one of the following.
o On the Edit menu, click Del Point.
o Right -click the object and click Del Point.
3. Click on a point of the polygon, the point is deleted and the shape of the polygon changes.

Working with Bitmap Containers

Bitmap containers are objects that enable you to import graphic objects such as pictures, screen
captures, and drawings into your application.
Supported bitmap container file types are .bmp, .jpeg, .jpg, .pcx and .tga.
When you import a bitmap, it automatically fills the bitmap container, but you can resize it to its original
size and proportions.
You can rotate bitmaps in 90 degree increments.
You can include bitmaps in a cell but not in a symbol.

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Using WindowMaker, you are able to place more bitmaps into a window than can load in WindowViewer.
If you need to place a large number of bitmaps in a window, be sure to test the window in WindowViewer
before releasing the application.
To import a bitmap image
1. On the Drawing toolbar, click the Bitmap tool. The cursor turns into a cross-hair.
2. Drag the cursor to draw a bitmap cont ainer.
3. On the Edit menu, click Import Image. The Select Image File dialog box appears.
4. Select the image filename and click OK.
To make the bitmap its original size
1. Select the image.
2. On the Edit menu, click Bitmap - Original Size.
To paste a bitmap image
1. Copy the graphic to the Windows Clipboard.
2. Click the Bitmap tool and draw a bitmap container in your window.
3. Right -click the bitmap container and click Paste Bitmap.
To edit a bitmap
1. Select the bitmap.
2. On the Edit menu click Edit Bitmap. Microsoft Paint opens showing the bitmap.
3. Edit the bitmap in MS Paint.
4. Save and close MS Paint.

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Defining Bitmap Transparency

When you define a transparent color in a bitmap, the window background or any objects behind the
bitmap shows through it everywhere the trans parent color is used.You can define only one transparent
color per image.

To create a transparent bitmap

1. With the bitmap selected, click the Transparent Color button on the Format toolbar to open the
transparent color palette.
2. Right -click a color square in the Custom Palette. The Edit Custom Color dialog box appears.
3. Click the eye dropper tool.
4. Click the color in the bitmap that you want to make transparent. The color is copied to the color
square that you selected in the color palette.
5. Click the color square to apply the transparent color to the bitmap. All the pixels in the image that are
that color bec ome transparent.

Changing the Radius of a Rounded Rectangle

You can increase and/or decrease the corner radius of a Rounded Rectangle.
To increase or decrease a rounded object's radius
1. Select the object.
2. On the Edit menu, click Enlarge Radius or Reduce Radius.

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Substituting Object Text

You can edit the text of objects that have text, such as symbols, cells, or buttons.
When you change a text string, it retains all of its original attribut es, font, style, color, and so on. Text
formatting also applies to numeric values.
To change the text in an object
1. Select the object or button with the text. Do either of the following:
o On the Special menu, click Substitute Strings.
o Right -click the text object, point to Substitute and then click Substi tute Strings.
2. In the New String box, type the new string and click OK.
To change a portion of text in a series of text objects
1. Select all the text objects.
2. On the Special menu, click Substitute Strings.
3. Click Replace. The Replace Text box appears.
4. In the Old Text box, type the portion of text to replace.
5. In the New box, type the new text string.
6. Click OK. The new text string replaces the old text string in all the selected objects.

Printing Window Information about WindowMaker Objects

You can print information about the InTouc h graphical objects that you have placed in an application
window. InTouch graphical objects include simple objects, such as lines, buttons, and text, as well as
complex objects, such as cells, ActiveX controls, SmartSymbols, and ArchestrA Symbols.
You can print details for graphical objects to either a printer or an .html file. An .html file is created for
each window. The .html file contains:
 A picture of the window as a referenced .png file.
 A listing of details about eac h graphical object in the window.
If you print graphical object details for multiple windows, a summary .html file is created that has links to
the window-specific .html files.

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To print information about WindowMaker objects

1. Open an InTouch application in WindowMaker. On the WindowMaker File menu, click Print. The
WindowMaker Printout dialog box appears.

2. Select the Windows check box.

3. Specify the windows to print:
o All prints the images/graphics for all windows in the application.

Note: Printing all windows of an application to an XPS file can cause WindowMaker to stop responding if
the windows contain many graphics or large graphics that exceed the available memory of the computer
hosting WindowMaker. You should print these windows one at a time to avoid problems caused by
memory shortages.

o Selected prints only the images/graphics for specific windows. The Windows to Print dialog
box appears. Select the windows in your application you want to print and click OK.
o Batch prints only the information for windows specified in a .cs v file.
For details on the .csv format, see .CSV Format for Printing Windows on page 31.
4. Select the Image/Graphics check box.
5. Click Next. The Select Output De stination dialog box appears.
6. Do one of the following
o Click Send output to Printer to print the information.
o Click Send output to HTML File to create a summary .html file, a single .html file, and .png file
for each window you specified. If .html and .png files exist, they are automatically overwritten.
7. Click Print.

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C HAPTER 4
Animating Objects
In This Chapter
About Animating Objects ............................................................................................................... 55
Two Types of Animation Links ....................................................................................................... 55
Data Display Animations ............................................................................................................... 55
Data Entry Animations .................................................................................................................. 69
Common Animation Tasks............................................................................................................. 79

About Animating Objects

You can animate objects or symbols by means of animation links. Animation links connect the values of
tags or expressions to your objects or symbols.
For example, you can:
 Create a slider or tank symbol that shows the liquid level in the tank.
 Create a met er that shows a range of values.
 Create touch screen symbols for operator control.

Two Types of Animation Links

There are two basic types of animation links: display links and touch links.
 Display links show information to operators. Examples of display links are changing colors, changing
fill levels, horizontal or vertical movements, and blinking objects.
 Touch links enable operator input into the system. Examples of touch links are sliders or push
buttons that respond to operator input.
You can define multiple links for objects or symbols. By combining various links, you can create almost
any screen animation effect.

Data Display Animations

Data display animations only show information to operators. These animations do not support operator
input.

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Creating Value Displays

Use a value display text object to show the value of a tag. This lets you show things like fill levels, on/off
status, or alarm messages.
You can use any one of three types of value display link s to show messages at run time.

Value Shows
Di splay
Type

Discrete Discrete values such as on or off

Analog The value of an analog expression such as fill level or speed.

String The value of a string expression such as "Fill Level = 100".

You can use up to 1023 characters in an expression. If you need a larger expression, create a
QuickFunction and call it in your expression.
Messages appear in the loc ation of the original text object using the font, size, color, alignment, and
linked attributes set for t hat object. The original c ontents of the field have no effect on the message at run
time.
To create a discrete value display link
1. Right -click the text object and click Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Value Display area, click Discrete. The Output -> Discrete Expression dialog box appears.

3. In the Expre ssion box, type the name of a discret e tag or an expression that equat es to a discrete
value. For ex ample:
Cooling_Pump
4. In the On Message box, type the message to appear when the value of the expression equals 1,
true, on, or yes. For example:
Pump is ON
5. In the Off Me ssage box, type the message to appear when the value of the expression equals 0,
false, off, or no. For example:
Pump is OFF
6. Click OK.
To create an analog value display link
1. Right -click the text object and click Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.

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2. In the Value Display area, click Analog. The Output -> Analog Expressi on dialog box appears.

3. In the Expre ssion box, type an analog (integer or real) tagname or an expression that equates to an
analog value. For example:
Tank_CV*0.06
4. In the Formatting area, in the list, click each data type for which you want to configure run time
advanced formatting. The Fixed Width check box, Precision box, and Bits From and To boxes
become available based on the data type you select. For information on configuring these options,
see Advanced Formatting for Text on page 84.

Note: During run time, the analog value input link field can be resized by clicking and dragging wit h the
pointer and mouse.

5. Click OK.
To create a string value display link
1. Right -click the text object and click Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Value Display area, click String. The Output -> String Expre ssion dialog box appears.

3. In the Expressi on box, type the name of a message tag or an expression that uses a message tag.
For example:
"The Tank Level is:" + Text(TankLevel,"#")
4. Click OK.

Note: During run time, the string value input link field can be resized by clicking and dragging with the
pointer and mouse.

Creating Movement
You make objects move at run time by using location links. You can make an object move horizontall y,
vertically, or both, as the value of an analog tag or expression changes. For example, as a tank level
increases and decreases, an indicator moves up and down.
To create horizontal movement
1. Place the object on the screen in the starting location.
2. Right -click the object and then select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.

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3. In the Location area, click Horizontal. The Horizontal Location dialog box appears.

4. In the Expre ssion box, type an analog tag name or an expression that equates to an analog value.
5. In the Properties area, configure how far the object moves. Do the following:
a. In the At Left End box, type the value of the analog tag when the object should be at its farthest
left position.
b. In the At Right End box, type the value of the analog tag when the object should be at its
farthest right position.
c. In the To Left box, type the number of pixels the object should move to the left of its starting
position.
d. In the To Right box, type the number of pixels the object should move to the right of its starting
position.
6. Click OK.
To create vertical movement
1. Place the object on the screen in the starting location.
2. Right -click the object and then select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
3. In the Location area, click Vertical. The Vertical Location dialog box appears.

4. In the Expre ssion box, type an analog tag name or an expression that equates to an analog value.
5. In the Properties area, do the following:
a. In the At Top box, type the value of the analog tag when the object should be at the top position.
b. In the At Bottom box, type the value of the analog tag when the object should be at the bottom
position.
c. In the Up box, type the number of pixels the object should move up from the starting position.
d. In the Down box, type the number of pixels the object should move down from the starting
position.
6. Click OK.

Creating Rotation
You can make an object move around a center point as the value of an analog tag changes by using
orientation links. For example, as pressure increas es or decreases, a pointer can move around a dial.

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The orientation link uses the center of the object or symbol as the default center of rotation. You can
offset the center of rotation.
Orientation links are not support ed for ArchestrA graphics.

Tip: Draw a temporary rectangle from the center of the object to the rotation center point. Now you can
read the X and Y offset dimensions in pixels from the W, H boxes in the status bar.

To create an orientation link

1. Right -click the object and click Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Mi scellaneous area, click Orientation. The Orientation -> Analog Value dialog box
appears.

3. In the Expre ssion box, type the name of an analog tag or an expression that equates to an analog
value.
4. In the Properties area, do the following:
a. In the Value at Max CCW box, type the value the expression must be for the object to rotate to
the maximum counter-clockwise position.
b. In the Value at Max CW box, type the value the expression must be for the object to rotate to its
maximum clockwise position.
c. In the CCW Rotation box, type the degrees the object rotates count er-clockwis e when the
Value at Max CCW is reached.
d. In the CW Rotation box, type the degrees the object rotates clockwise when the Value at Max
CW is reached.
5. In the Center of Rotation Offse t from Object Centerpoint area, do the following:
a. In the X Position box, type the horizontal offs et of the rotation centerpoint. Enter the offset in
pixels from the centerpoint of the object.
b. In the Y Position box, type the vertical offset of the rotation centerpoint. Enter the offset in pixels
from the centerpoint of the object.
6. Click OK.

Animating Sizes
You can vary the height and/or widt h of an object according to the value of an analog tag or expression
by using object size links.
For example, a pressure indicator can become larger as pressure increases, or an object on a conveyor
can appear to move toward the viewer by bec oming larger.
Object size links not only control the size of an object, but the direction in which the object changes size
through the use of an anchor for the animation.

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To create an object size height link

1. Right -click the object and click Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Object Size area, click Height. The Object Height -> Analog Value dialog box appears.

3. In the Expre ssion box, type the name of an analog tag or an expression that equates to an analog
value.
4. In the Properties area, do the following:
a. In the Value at Max Height box, type the value of the tag or expression when the object reaches
maximum height.
b. In the Value at Min Height box, type the value of the tag or expression when the object reaches
minimum height.
c. In the Max % Height box, type the percent age of its original height that the object will be when
the tagname or expression reaches the value set in the Value at Max Height box. The percent
figures are expressed as a percentage of the drawn size of the object. The drawn size is always
the 100% size.
d. In the Min % Height box, type the percent age of its original height that the object will be when
the tagname or expression reaches the value set in the Value at Min Height box. The percent
figures are expressed as a percentage of the drawn size of the object. The drawn size is always
the 100% size.
5. Select the Anchor point from whic h the object enlarges.
o Select Top for the object to enlarge from its top downward.
o Select Middle for the object to enlarge from its centerpoint outwards in bot h directions.
o Select Bottom for the object to enlarge from its bottom upwards.
6. Click OK.
To create a object size width link
1. Right -click the object and click Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Object Size area, click Width. The Object Width -> Analog Value dialog box appears.

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3. In the Expre ssion box, type the name of an analog tag or an expression that equates to an analog
value.
4. In the Properties area, do the following:
a. In the Value at Max Width box, type the value of the tag or expression when the object reaches
maximum width.
b. In the Value at Min Width box, type the value of the tag or expression when the object reaches
minimum width.
c. In the Max % Width box, type the percent age of its original width that the object will be when the
tagname or expression reaches the value set in the Value at Max Width box. The perc ent
figures are expressed as a percentage of the drawn size of the object. The drawn size is always
the 100% size.
d. In the Min % Width box, type the percentage of its original width that the object will be when the
tagname or expression reaches the value set in the Value at Min Width box. The perc ent
figures are expressed as a percentage of the drawn size of the object. The drawn size is always
the 100% size.
5. Select the Anchor point from whic h the object enlarges in width.
o Select Left for the object to enlarge from its left side.
o Select Center for the object to enlarge from its centerpoint outwards in both directions.
o Select Right for the object to enlarge from its right side.
6. Click OK.

Animating Colors
You can animate color changes to any object by using color links. Changes can be based on the value of
an analog or discret e tag, the value of an analog or discret e expression, or a discret e or analog alarm
status.
You can use three kinds of color links to animate objects:
 Line Color
 Fill Color
 Text Color
For each of these three kinds of color links, four types of expressions can control color changes.

Expression Type Changes the color based on

Discrete The value of a discrete tag or expression.

Analog The value of an analog tag or expression. You can define ten colors to
represent differing values.

Discrete Alarm The alarm state of a tag, Alarm Group, or Group Variable.

Analog Alarm The alarm state of an analog tag, Alarm Group, or Group Variable. You
can define five colors to represent five alarm conditions.

WARNI NG! Objects do not go into an alarm state when using an analog alarm link if the link is to
a remote tag from an unconverted application created before InTouch version 7.11.

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All discrete color links are created in the s ame way. The following proc edure describes creating a fill color
link.
To create a discrete fill color link
1. Right -click the object and click Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Fill Color area, click Discrete. The Fill Color -> Di screte Expression dialog box appears.

3. In the Expre ssion box, type the name of a discrete tag or a discrete expression that equates to true
or false.
Discrete ex pressions can contain analog tags. For example, TankLevel >= 75. In t his example, when
the value of the variable "TankLevel" is greater than or equal to 75, the fill color of the object
changes.
4. In the Colors area, click each color box to open the color palette. Select the color to use for each
state.
5. Click OK.
To create an analog expression color link
1. Right -click the object and then select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Fill Color area, click Analog. The Fill Color -> Analog Expre ssion dialog box appears.

3. In the Expre ssion box, type the name of an analog tag or an expression that equates to an analog
value.
4. In the Break Points area, do the following.
o Specify the breakpoint values where the object changes color.

Tip:You do not have to use ten different colors. For example, if you only want the object to change color
three times, type three values and use the same color for the remaining values. If you need a more
versatile range, review the analog fill capabilities of ArchestrA symbols. For more information see, About
InTouch HMI and ArchestrA Int egrationin the InTouch® HMI and ArchestrA® Integration Guide.

o In the Colors area, select a color for each breakpoint.

5. Click OK.
To create a discrete alarm status color link
1. Right -click the object and then select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.

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2. In the Fill Color area, click Discrete Alarm. The Fill Color -> Di screte Tagname Alarm Status
dialog box appears.

3. In the Tagname box, type the name of the discrete tag to associate with the object.
4. In the Colors area, select a color for each alarm state.
5. Click OK.
To create an analog alarm status color link
1. Right -click the object and then select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Fill Color area, click Analog Alarm. The Fill Color -> Analog Tagname Alarm Status dialog
box appears.

3. In the Tagname box, type the name of an analog tag to associated with the object.
In the Alarm Type area, select from one of the three types of alarms to associate with the object.
Alarm Type Use up to

Value Five colors to show the status of the value alarms.

Deviation Three colors to show the status of the deviation alarms.

ROC (Rate of Change) Two colors to show the status of a rate -of change alarm.

4. In the Colors area, select a color for each alarm state.

5. Click OK.

Animating Fill Levels

You can vary the fill level of an object using a percent fill link. The perc ent fill is based on the value of an
analog tag or expression. You can create horizontal fills, vertical fills, or both.
For example, you can use a vertical fill link to show the level of liquid in a tank or a horizontal fill link to
show the progress of a process.
You creat e the horizontal and vertical percent fill links the same way.
To create a percent fill link
1. Right -click the object and then select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Percent Fill area, do one of the following:

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o Click Vertical, the Vertical Fill -> Analog Value dialog box appears.

o Click Horizontal, the Horizontal Fill -> Analog Value dialog box appears.

3. In the Expre ssion box, type the name of an analog tag or an expression that equates to an analog
value.
4. In the Properties area, do the following:
a. In the Value at Max Fill box, type the value of the expression that will result in the object being
filled to its maximum level.
b. In the Value at Min Fill box, type the value of the expression that will result in the object being
filled to its minimum level.
c. In the Max % Fill box, type the percentage (0-100) that the object will be filled when the
expression reac hes the level set in the Value at Max Fill box.
d. In the Min % Fill box, type the percentage (0-100) that the object will be filled when the
expression reac hes the level set in the Value at Min Fill box.
5. In the Direction area, click the direction to fill from.
6. In the Background Color box, select the color of the unfilled portion of the object.
o The actual fill color is the color that you select for the object when you draw it.
o If you link both vertical percent fill and horizontal percent fill links to the same object, the last
color you select is the background color.
7. Click OK.

Making Objects Blink

You can creat e animated objects that blink based on the values of tags by using blink links. For example,
you can creat e an object that blinks red when a certain piece of equipment is on, or when an alarm se t
point is reached.
The blink animation synchronization enables all active blink animations on all open windows to blink in
unison based on their common blink speed (slow, medium, or fast).

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Tip: Discrete expressions can contain analog tagnames. For example, TankLevel > 75. In this example,
when the value of the TankLevel tag is greater than 75, the object begins blinking.

To create a blink link

1. Right -click the object and then select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Mi scellaneous area, click Blink. The Object Blinking -> Discrete Value dialog box appears.

3. In the Expre ssion - Blink When box, type the name of a discrete tag or an expression that equates
to a discrete value.
4. In the Blinked Attribute s area, do the following:
o Click Blink Invisible to set the object to blink by disappearing and reappearing in the window.
o Click Blink visible with these attribute s to set the object to remain visible, but change color
when activat ed.
o Click the TextColor, Line Color or Fill Color boxes to select colors for those parts of the object.
The color palette appears.

Note: If you select a fill blink color that is the same as the object's fill color, the object does not appear to
blink.

5. In the Blink Speed area, set the blinking speed of the object. Click either Slow, Medium, or Fast.
6. Click OK.
To set the blink frequency for WindowMaker
1. On the Special menu, point to Configure and then click WindowViewer. The WindowViewer
Properties dialog box appears.
2. In the Blink Frequency area, type the number of milliseconds to use for the three speeds.

Note: Changes you make to these settings are global and affect all blink speeds in your application.

3. Click OK.

Enabling Visibility
You can create links to hide objects based on the values of various tags by using visibility links. Using
visibility links, you can:
 Create the impression that moving objects only move in one direction, by hiding them when they
move in the wrong direction.
 Create the impression that a moving object has stopped.
 Caus e an object such as an alarm or error message to become visible only when it is activated.

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Tip: Discrete expressions can cont ain analog tags, for example,
TankLevel >= 75. In this example, when the value of the tag, TankLevel is greater than or equal to 75, the
object becomes visible in the window.

To create a visibility link

1. Right -click the object and then select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Mi scellaneous area, click Visibility. The Object Vi sibility -> Di screte Value dialog box
appears.

3. In the Expre ssion box, type the name of a discret e tag or an expression that equat es to a discrete
value.
4. Select the Visible State for the object. If you select Off, the object is invisible when the value of the
expression is true. If you select On, the object is visible when the value of the expression is true.
5. Click OK.

Disabling Objects
You can impose a level of security on your application wit h disable links. For example, you can disable
touch sensitive objects based on operator access level or name. Or you can secure a button from
tampering if no one is logged on.
A disabled state of ON means the touch functionality of the object or button is turned off and is not active
as long as the expression is true.

Tip:Discrete expressions can contain analog tagnames. For example, TankLevel >= 75. In t his example,
when the value of the variable " TankLevel" is greater than or equal to 75, the object is disabled.

To create a disable link

1. Right -click the object and then select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Mi scellaneous area, click Disable. The Object Di sabled -> Di screte Value dialog box
appears.

3. In the Expre ssion box, type the name of a discret e tag or ex pression that equates to a discrete
value.
4. In the Di sabled State area, do one of the following:
o Select On to set the disabled state so that the object does not activate while the discret e tag or
expression is true.
o Select Off to remove the disabled state and enable t he object to function while the discrete tag or
expression is true.

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5. Click OK.

Configuring ToolTips
You can create ToolTips to give users information about an object on the screen by using tooltip links.
ToolTips appear when the pointer moves over the object, and disappears when the pointer is moved
away. The duration of time the tooltip appears and the positioning of the tooltip are determined by the
operating system.
You can set either an expression or static text for your tooltips.
 Create a static tooltip to show the same message every time the tooltip appears.
 Create an expression tooltip so that every time the tooltip appears, the expression is evaluated and
shown as the tooltip text.
For the following example expression, the text appears as the current value of the msgTooltipTag01
message tag.
msgTooltipTag01
For this example, the literal string appears followed by the current value of the iTemp tag and the result
appears as the tooltip text:
"Current temp. is " + StringFromIntg (iTemp,10)
The width of the Tooltip window can be changed in Windows 7 and later versions of Windows. You can
edit the InTouch.INI file to add an entry for Tooltip width.
Examples:
 Tooltipwidth=200
 A value of -1 (Tooltipwidth=-1) shows tooltip text on a single line without a line break
 If no tooltip width is specified, the default width of the tooltip window is 88.
To create a tooltip link
1. Right -click the object and then select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box opens.
2. In the Mi scellaneous area, click Tooltip. The Object Tooltip -> String Tagname dialog box
appears.

3. In the Tooltip Attribute s area, select either Expression or Static text.

o If you select Expre ssion, enter an expression that evaluates to a message value. This can be a
simple message tagname or a more complex expression.
o If you select Statictext, enter a static message, up to 131 characters, as the tooltip text.
4. Click OK.

Positioning a Touch-Sensitive Window

You can make a window appear during run time in a precise location relative to a touch sensitive object.
For example, an operator can select an object to see t he status, name, or other data linked t o that object.
When the operator s elects the object, either by a click or mouse -over, the window appears in the location
you specify.

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Use the script functions ShowAt() or ShowTopLeftAt() with the system read only tags $ObjHor and
$ObjVer to locate the window relative to the object. You can also use fixed positions in these functions.
If the Windows Di splay Properties is set to the Windows XP theme, this functionality is erratic under
certain circumstances.
The syntax looks like this:
ShowTopLeftAt (windowname, $ObjHor, $ObjVer);
where
windowname: the name of the window to be opened.
$ObjHor: the horizontal position of the center of the object selected.
$ObjVer: the vertical position of the center of the object selected.
The new window appears with its top left corner at the center of the selected object.
A similar script function opens the window with its center at the center of the selected object. The syntax
looks like this:
ShowAt (windowname, $ObjHor, $ObjVer);
To open a window at the selected object
1. Design, name, and create the window to appear.
2. Right -click the object to trigger the window, and click Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog
box appears.
3. In the Touch Pushbuttons area, select Action. The Touch -> Action Script dialog box appears.

4. Type one of following scripts according to the syntax defined previously:

ShowTopLeftAt (windowname, $ObjHor, $ObjVer);
or
ShowAt (windowname, $ObjHor, $ObjVer);
5. In the Condition Type box, click the mouse action to open the window.
6. Click OK.

$ObjHor System Tag

Cont ains the horizontal pixel location of the center of the object in foc us.

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Category
system
Usage
$ObjHor
Data Type
Integer (read only)
See Also
$ObjVer

$ObjVer System Tag

Cont ains the vertical pixel location of the center the object in focus.
Category
system
Usage
$ObjVer
Data Type
Integer (read only)
See Also
$ObjHor

Data Entry Animations

To create objects that enable operator interaction, use touch links. Touch links enable operators to input
data into a running application. For example, an operator can log on with a keyboard, turn a valve on or
off, enter a new alarm setpoint, or start or stop a process.
A frame appears around a touch-sensitive object when it has the focus. An object gets the focus when
the user moves the cursor over it or presses the TAB or arrow keys to move the focus to the object.
If you expect your us ers to use the TAB key to select touch sensitive objects, try to arrange them in
horizontal patterns. Pressing the Tab key moves the focus from one object to another from left to right
beginning at the top of the window then moving down.
If a touch link object contains text objects that are placed on top of each other, the top text object is the
only one that appears.
An operator can activat e a touch-sensitive object by clicking it, pressing an assigned key equivalent,
pressing Enter when the object frame appears, or by actually touching it if using a touch screen display
devic e.
You can create nine types of user input touch links:

Touch Link Action

User Inputs  Discrete

 Analog
 String

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Touch Link Action

Sliders  Vertical
 Horiz ontal

Pushbuttons  Discrete Value

 Action
 Show Window
 Hide Window

When a text field is used for input, text appears on the screen as the keys are pressed.
If you don't want text to appear as you type it, select the Input Only option in the configuration panel for
the link.

Enabling Discrete Input

You can design operator input touch links to change the value of discrete tags from one state to another.
For example to turn a pump on or off, use discrete links.
To create a discrete input link
1. Right -click an object and select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Touch Links area, under User Inputs, select Discrete. The Input -> Di screte Tagname
dialog box appears.

3. In the Tagname box, type the name of a discrete tag.

4. Optionally, in the Key Equivalent area, assign a key equivalent to the link. For mo re information, see
Creating Keyboard Shortcuts on page 83.
5. Configure the discret e input details. Do the following:
o In the Msg to User box, type the message to appear in the Input dialog box.
o In the Set Prompt and Reset Prompt boxes, type the messages to appear on the buttons the
operator will click to turn the discrete value on and off.
o In the On Message and Off Message boxes, type the messages to appear in the text field
associated with the object when the value is on or off.
6. Select the InputOnly check box to prevent the input from appearing in a text field associated with the
object.
7. Click OK.

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Enabling Analog Input

You can create an object for operators to input real values such as alarm set point or conveyor speed by
using an analog input link.
To create an analog input link
1. Right -click an object and select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Touch Links area, under User Inputs, select Analog. The Input -> Analog Tagname dialog
box appears.

3. In the Tagname box, type the name of an analog tag.

4. In the Key Equi valent area, assign a key equivalent to the link. For more information, see Creating
Keyboard Shortcuts on page 83.
5. Configure the analog input details. Do the following:
o In the Keypad? area, click Yes if you want to show an on-screen numeric keypad to enter a
value. In the Msg to User box, type the prompt message that you want to appear in keypad.
o In the Minimum and Maximum boxes, type the minimum and maximum input values for t he tag.
These settings limit the user input for the animation at run time. Constant analog values (integer
or real) are supported, as well as references. The default values are 1 and 100, respectively. The
maximum value must be greater than the minimum value.
If you are using a reference, see the Using References for the Minimum and Maximum Limits of
an Analog Input Animation section for more information.
6. Select the InputOnly check box to prevent the input from appearing in a text field associated with the
object.
7. In the Formatting area, in the list, click each data type for which you want to configure run time
advanced formatting. The Fixed Width check box, Precision box, and Bits From and To boxes
become available based on the data type you select. For information on configuring these options,
see the Advanced Formatting for Text section.
8. Click OK.

Using References for the Minimum and Maximum Limits of an Analog Input
Animation
Constant analog values and references are support ed for the minimum and maximum limits of an analog
user input animation. You configure these limits using the Input -> Analog Tagname dialog box.
A reference can either be a remote analog tag or a local analog tag like a mem ory tag or an I/O tag.

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 When InTouch I/O tags are used for the minimum and maximum values, only the InTouch I/O tags
are evaluated. If the I/O tag refers to a remote tag reference that is assigned a string value, then the
I/O tag value is evaluated as 0.
 When remote tag references are used for the minimum and maximum values, the references are
internally evaluated as strings. If the remote references are assigned with string values that fail to get
converted to analog values, a warning message appears in t he Logger. The Minimum and
Maximum boxes show values bas ed on the data type of the referenc e to which user input is
configured.
 When the user input in the Minimum or Maximum field contains the letter ‘e’, the input is either a
string or an exponential value. When the user input contains numbers followed by the letter ‘e’,
followed by numbers (±N e ±N format, where N is a number), the user input is considered as an
exponential value. When the user input containing ‘e’ contains any other alphabet (even anothe r ‘e’),
the user input is considered as a reference name.
If a reference goes into bad quality at run time, the following occurs.
For the reference in the Minimum box:
 If the primary reference of the animation is an InTouch tag, the tag’s configured minim um value is
retrieved from the tag database and us ed for the minimum value.
 If the primary reference of t he animation is an external reference, the minimum value of t he data type
is used. If the configured data point is a string, the last known value is us ed to determine the data
type.
o If the last known value contains a decimal point, the data type is real.
o If the last known value does not contain a decimal point, the data type is an integer.
o If there is no last known value, then integer is used.
For the reference in the Maximum box:
 If the primary reference of the animation is an InTouch tag, the tag’s configured maximum value is
retrieved from the tag database and us ed for the maximum value.
 If the primary reference of the animation is an external refere nce, the maximum value of the data
type is used. If the configured data point is a string, the last known value is used to determine the
data type.
o If the last known value contains a decimal point, the data type is real.
o If the last known value does not contain a decimal point, the data type is an integer.
o If there is no last known value, then integer is used.

Enabling String Input

You can create an object to enable users to input text strings such as batch names, operat or ID, or
passwords by using string input links.
To create a string input link
1. Right -click an object and select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.

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2. In the Touch Links area, under User Inputs, select String. The Input -> String Tagname dialog
box appears.

3. In the Tagname box, type the name of a message tag.

4. Optionally configure a key equivalent and/or keyboard.
o In the Key Equi valent area, assign a key equivalent to the link. For more information, see
Creating Keyboard Shortcuts on page 83.
o In the Keypad? area, click Ye s if you want to show a k eyboard for inputting the new value. In the
Msg to User box, type the message to appear in keyboard.
5. In the Echo Characters? area, select if you want characters to appear in the input box as the user
types the string.
o Click Yes to show the typed text in the input box.
o Click No to not show the typed text.
o Click Password to use a "masking" character instead of the typed text. In the Pa ssword Char
box, type the masking character. Select the Encrypt check box to encry pt the password.

Important: Password encryption only works within the cont ext of the InTouch HMI. Do not encry pt the
string if you want to pass it to an external security system, such as the operating system or a SQL Server
database. The external security system cannot read the encrypted password string and access will fail.

6. Select the InputOnly check box to prevent the input from appearing in a text field associated with the
object.
7. Click OK.

Enabling Sliders
You can create objects that users can drag back and forth through the use of slider touch links. As the
user moves the object, it alters the value of the tag linked to it. You can link an object to a horizontal or a
vertical slider.
When you make an object into a slider, you set the reference location, which is the point on the object the
cursor uses to lock onto it.
You can use both horizontal and vertical links on a single object, so that the value of two analog tags are
altered simultaneously.
To create a horizontal slider link
1. Right -click the object and click Animation Links. The Animation Link selection dialog box appears.

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2. In the Slider area, click Horizontal. The HorizontalSlider dialog box appears.

3. In the Tagname box, type the name of an analog tag.

4. In the Properties area, do the following:
a. In the At Left End box, type the value for the tag when the slider is in its farthest left position.
b. In the At Right End box, type the value for the tag when the slider is in its farthest right position.
c. In the To Left box, type the number of pixels the slider can move to the left.
d. In the To Right box, type the number of pixels the slider can move to the right.
5. In the Reference Location area, click the location on the object that the cursor will use to lock onto
the object.
6. Click OK.
To create a vertical slider link
1. Right -click the object and click Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Slider area, click Vertical. The VerticalSlider dialog box appears.

3. In the Tagname box, type the name of an analog tag.

4. In the Properties area, do the following:
a. In the At Top box, type the value for the tag when the slider is in its farthest up position.
b. In the At Bottom box, type the value for the tag when the slider is in its farthest down position.
c. In the Up box, type the number of pixels the slider can move up.
d. In the Down box, type the number of pixels the slider can move down.
5. In the Reference Location area, click the location on the object that the cursor will use to lock onto
the object.
6. Click OK.

Enabling Push Buttons

You can create touch sensitive objects that start action scripts by using touch push button links.

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Action scripts can set tags to specific values, start and control other applications, execute functions and
so on.
To create a discrete value touch link
1. Right -click the object and then select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Touch Pushbutton area, click Discrete Value. The Pushbutton -> Di screte Value dialog
box appears.

3. In the Tagname box, type a discrete type tagname.

4. Click Key to assign a key equivalent to the link.
5. In the Action area, click one of the following types:
o Click Direct to set the value equal t o 1 as long as the push button is pressed and held down. The
value aut omatically resets to 0 when the button is released.
o Click Reverse to set the value equal to 0 when the push button is pressed and held down. The
value aut omatically resets to 1 when the button is released.
o Click Toggle to reverse the state of the discrete tag.
o Click Reset to set the value equal to 0.
o Click Set to set the value equal to 1.
6. Click OK.
To create an action script link
1. Right -click the object and then select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Touch Pushbutton area, click Action. The Touch-> Action Script edit or appears.

3. In the Condition Type list, select a script type. For more information on the types of action scripts,
see Script Triggers in the InTouch® HMI Scripting and Logic Guide

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Note: If you assign a key equivalent link to an action push button and to the same key is used for a key
script, the key equivalent link you assign takes precedence over the key script.

4. In the Script Editor window, type the script to execute when the object is activated.
5. Click OK.

Opening and Closing Windows

You can create touch links to open and close other InTouc h windows by using show window and hide
window links.
You can program objects to open more than one window at a time. However, if you program your link to
open more than one window, be aware of any intersections and window types.
If one of the opening windows is a replace type window and intersects another opening window, the ot her
window closes before opening.
To create a show (or hide) window link
1. Right -click the object and then select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
2. In the Touch Pushbutton area, click Show Window or Hide Window. The Windows to Show
when touched or Windows to Hide when touched dialog box appears.

3. Select the window(s) to open or hide.

4. Click OK.

Configuring On-Screen Keyboards

On-screen keyboards enable operator input in situations where a keyboard is not connected to the
computer.
You can designat e one of three on-screen keyboard types.
 The standard InTouc h keyboard or keypad. This is the default keyboard.
 The Windows system keyboard. The Windows keyboard is a fully functional QWERTY -type
keyboard with function keys, print screen key, number lock key, directional arrows, and so on.
 The re-sizable keyboard or keypad. This keyboard can be resized during run time.
You can also open the keyboard by using the DialogStringE ntry() and DialogValueEntry () function in a
script. For more information, see DialogStringE ntry() Function on page 77 and DialogV alueE ntry()
Function on page 78.

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To configure the on screen keyboard type

1. On the Special menu, point to Configure and then click WindowViewer. The WindowViewer
Properties dialog box appears.
2. In the Keyboard area, select type of keyboard you want.

3. If you select the re-sizeable keyboard, click Options to select font, location, and dimension
properties of the keyboard.
4. Click OK.
To make an on screen keyboard appear
1. Configure the on-screen keyboard type.
2. Right -click on a text object and select Animation Links. The Animation Links dialog box appears.
3. In the Touch Links area, under User Inputs, select String. The Input->String Tagname dialog box
appears.

4. In the Keypad? area, select Ye s.

5. Click OK.

DialogStringEntry() Function
Shows an alphanumeric keyboard on the screen, enabling the operat or to change the current string
value of a message tag in the Tagname Dictionary.
Category
misc
Syntax
[Result=]DialogStringEntry(MessageTag_Text, UserPrompt_Text);
Parameters
MessageTag_Text
The name of the message tag to be modified. This value is a string value. Specify the tagname within
quotes or use the .Name dotfield without quotes. You can also use a message tag as a pointer.
UserP rompt _Text
The user message to show at the top of the keyboard.

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Return Value
Returns one of the following int eger values:
0 = Cancel was pressed.
1 = OK was pressed.
-1 = Internal error.
-2 = Could not initiate.
-3 = Tagname not defined.
-4 = Tagname is not a Message type.
-5 = Unable to write.
Remarks
This function is used primarily in applications containing touch screens.
Example
Errmsg=DialogStringEntry(MyMessageTag.Name, "Enter a new string...");
Errmsg=DialogStringEntry("MyMessageTag","Enter a new string...");
For example, the following script opens an alphanumeric keyboard, allowing modification of
MyMessageTag while showing the message "Enter a new string..." at the top of the key board:
MessageTagX="MyMessageTag"; {assign the string MyMessageTag (which is actually
the tagname to be modified) to the Memory Message tagname MessageTagX}
MessageDisplay="Enter a new string..."; {assign the new message string to the
Memory Message tagname MessageDisplay}
Errmsg=DialogStringEntry(MessageTagX, MessageDisplay); {quotes are not
required because MessageTagX was defined as a Message tagname}
See Also
DialogValueEntry ()

DialogValueEntry() Function
Shows the numeric keypad on the screen, enabling the user to change the current value of a discrete,
integer or real tag.
Category
misc
Syntax
[Result=] DialogValueEntry(ValueTag_Text, LowLimit, HighLimit,
UserPrompt_Text);
Parameters
ValueTag_Text
The name of the discret e, integer, or real tag to modify. This value is a string value. Specify the
tagname within quot es or use the .Name field without quotes. You can also use a message tag as a
pointer.
LowLimit
The minimum value of the tag. (This should be >= the tagname's definition for minimum value,
minimum raw or minimum engineering unit, as applicable).
HighLimit
The maximum value of the tag. (This should be <= the tagname's definition for maximum value,
maximum raw or maximum engineering unit, as applicable).

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UserP rompt _Text

The user message to show at the top of the keypad.
Return Value
Returns one of the following int eger values:
0 = Cancel was pressed.
1 = OK was pressed.
-1 = Highlimit<=Lowlimit.
-2 = Could not initiate.
-3 = Tagname not defined.
-4 = Tagname is not a Discrete, Integer or Real type.
-5 = Write failed.
Remarks
This function is used primarily in applications containing touch screens.
Example(s)
Errmsg=DialogValueEntry(MyIntegerTag.Name, MyIntegerTag.MinEU,
MyIntegerTag.MaxEU, "Enter a new value...");
Errmsg=DialogValueEntry("MyIntegerTag", -100, 100, "Enter a new value...");
For example, the following script brings up the numeric keypad, allowing modification of My IntegerTag
using a minimum and maximum limit of -100 and 100 (respectively), while showing t he message "Enter a
new value..." at the top of the keypad:
TagnameX="MyIntegerTag"; {assign the string MyIntegerTag (which is actually the
tagname to be modified) to the Memory Message tagname TagnameX}
Min=-100; {assign the minimum value allowed for the tagname to the Memory
Real/Integer tagname Min}
Max=100; {assign the minimum value allowed for the tagname to the Memory
Real/Integer tagname Max}
MessageDisplay="Enter a new value..."; {assign the new message string to the
Memory Message tagname MessageDisplay}
Errmsg=DialogValueEntry(TagnameX, Min, Max, MessageDisplay); {quotes are not
required because TagnameX was defined as a Message tagname. By assigning a
Discrete, Integer or Real tagname to TagnameX, the function will modify that
assigned tagname}
See Also
DialogStringEntry()

Common Animation Tasks

Common animation tasks include selecting tags, creating keyboard shortcuts, changing tagname
references and replacing placeholder tags.

Selecting Tags or Attributes

Use the Select Tag dialog box, also called the tag brows er, to select:
 Tags defined in a loc al or remote InTouch application.
 ArchestrA object attributes with the Galaxy Brows er.
You open the Select Tag dialog box by double-clicking in any text box that requires a tag name for input.

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Selecting an InTouch Tag

You can select tags defined in a local or remote InTouch application. You can creat e references to tags
in any tag source that supports the Tagname Dictionary interface.
For example, remote tag references enable your application to access data from I/ O Ser vers without
creating tags in the local Tagname Dictionary.
You can set a dot field for each InTouch tag you select. Dotfields can access, monitor, and modify tag
properties. If you do not select a dot field, the .Value dotfield is used. For more information about
dotfields, see Using Tag Dotfields to View or Change Tag Properties in the InTouch® HMI Data
Management Guide
To select an InTouch tag
1. Open the Select Tag dialog box by double-clicking in any text box that requires a tag name for input.

2. In the Tag Source list, click the name for the tag source or click the browse button to define a new
tag source to use.
For more information on defining tag sources, see Data Access with I/Oin the InTouch® HMI Data
Management Guide
3. In the Filter list, click a filter to reduce the number of tagnames shown in the window. To define a
filter, click the ellipsis button. For more information, see Creating a Tag Filter on page 81.
4. Select a tagname in the window.
You can change the way the tagnames are shown in Select Tag dialog box. For more information,
see Changing the View in the Select Tag Dialog Box on page 82.
5. In the Dot Field list, click a dotfield to append to the selected tagname.
Dotfields can access, monitor and modify tag properties. If you do not select a dotfield, the .Value
dotfield is used. Click OK.

Selecting an ArchestrA Object Attribute

You can select attributes that are associated with an ArchestrA object. To do this, you must firs t add the
Galaxy that contains the object as a data source for your InTouch application. For more information
about data sources, see Data Access with I/O in the InTouch® HMI Data Management Guide

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To select an object attribute

1. Open the Select Tag dialog box by double-clicking in any text box that requires a tag name for input.

2. In the Tag Source list, click the name of the tag source that uses the Galaxy or click the browse
button to define a new tag source to use. The Galaxy Browser dialog box appears.
3. Use the Galaxy Browser to find and select an ArchestrA object attribute. For more information, see
the Application Server documentation.
4. Click OK to close the Galaxy Browser. The attribute referenc e appears in the text box that requires
a tag name.

Note:To return to the Select Tag dialog box from the Galaxy Browser, click the Back button in the
bottom right corner of the Galaxy Browser.

Creating a Tag Filter

If you have a large number of tags in your Tagname Dictionary, finding the tag for an animation can be
cumbers ome. For example, you may only want to see the tags assigned to a particular Access Name or
Alarm Group. You can configure a filter so that only a subset of tags are shown in the Select Tag dialog
box.
You can use the following wildcard expressions in your filter.
 The multiple character wildcard is the asterisk (*). For example, "Asyn*" searches for all tagnames
beginning with the characters "Asyn".
 The single character wildcard is the question mark (?). For example, the "Tag?" filter searches for all
four-c haracter tagnames that begin with "Tag". The "Tag*" filter searches for all tagnames that begin
with "Tag".
 Any sequence of valid tagname characters, together with the two wildcard characters, is acceptable
in a filter. Valid tagname characters are: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, !, @, -, #, $, %, _ and &.

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To define a search filter

1. In the Select Tag dialog box, click the ellipsis button next to the Filter list. The Define Tag Filter
dialog box appears.

2. In the Filter Name box, type a filter name.

3. In the Filter Options area, configure the filter criteria. Do any of the following:
o In the Tagname box, type the tag name.
o In the Tag Type box, type the tag type.
o In the Access Name box, type the local Access Name.
o In the Alarm Group box, type the Alarm Group name.
o In the Comment box, type the comment expression.
4. Click OK. The Filter Name appears in the Filter list in the Select Tag dialog box. You can select the
filter to show the tags meeting the filter criteria.
To delete a search filter
1. In the FilterName box, click the filter.
2. Click Delete.

Changing the View in the Select Tag Dialog Box

The Select Tag dialog box has three different views: List, Details, and Tree View.

To see the Click the Description

List view List view button Small icons appear next to the
tagnames according to the type of each
tagname.

Details view Details view You see the same small icons and
button tagnames, plus Tag Types, Access
Name, Alarm Group, and Comments.
Sort the list by clicking the column
headers.

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To see the Click the Description

Tree View Tree view icon The Tree View displays the tagnames in
two views.
You can access the member tagnames
in any SuperTag template.

Creating Keyboard Shortcuts

You can assign a specific key on the k eyboard to activate certain animation links by using key equivalent
links. The key equivalent is only operational when the object with the link is vi sible or selected. If the
object has a visibility or disable link, the key equivalent is not active when the object is disabled.
You can define the same key in multiple windows. However, the definition in the most recently opened
window is the active one. In the case of overlay windows, the key is active in the window on top.

Note: If any object or action push button in the active window is assigned to the same key used for a key
action script, the key equivalent link on the key in the active window takes precedence over the execution
of the key action script.

The animation links that support key equivalents appears the Key Equivalent area in their link dialog
boxes.
Key links are only available for function keys 1 -16. If y ou are using a custom keyboard that has more t han
16 function keys, get a device driver from your manufacturer to access the extended function keys on
your system.
To assign a key to a link
1. Open the Animation Links dialog box for the type of link you are configuring.
2. Select Ctrl and/or Shift if you want the operator to hold down either or both of thes e keys when
pressing the key equivalent.
3. Click Key. The Choose key dialog box appears.
4. Click the key to assign to the link. The Animation Link dialog box reappears with the name of the
selected key next to the Key button.
5. Click OK.

Changing Tagname References

When you duplicate an object, you get an ex act copy of the original including links, animation, scripts and
so on. However, if you need to use a different tag on a duplicated object, you must substitute a tag.
You can select and substitute a tag for any object and you can select multiple objects and substitute all
their tags at the same time.
If your system license supports a limited number of tagnames, convert your loc al tags to remote tag
references to reduce the number of tags defined in your local Tagname Dictionary.
Substituting a tag works for all tags and references.
To substitute a tag with another tag
1. Select the object(s) associated with the tag to change to another tag.
2. On the Special menu, click Substitute Tags. The Substitute Tagnames dialog box appears.
3. In the New Name box, type the new tagname.

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o If you double-click a tag in the New Name box, its definition in the Tagname Dictionary appears.
o If you erase the tagname then double-click the blank box, the Select Tag dialog box appears.
4. Click OK. The tag associated with the object is automatically changed.

Converting Placeholder Tags

If you import or export a window or QuickScript to or from your current application, all the tags associated
with that window or QuickScript are transferred with the window.
The local tags are not aut omatically added to your application database. Instead, they are aut omatically
marked as placeholder tags.
Remote tag references are not affected, and are not marked as plac eholder tags.
You must convert the placeholder tags to existing local tags, define them in the new application’s
Tagname Dictionary, or make them remot e tag references.
Notice the placeholders ?d:, ?i:, ?m: and ?r: preceding the tags. They indicate the type that the tag was
originally defined as:

Placeholder Symbol Tagname Type

d Discrete

i Integer

m Message

r Real

Note: Remot e tag references are not shown as placeholders but as remote tag references such as:
PLC2:Temperature.

You can use several methods in the Substitute Tagnames dialog box to convert placeholder tags to
local tags. For more information, see Exporting and Importing Tag Definitions, Windows, and Scriptsin
the InTouch® HMI Application Management and Extension Guide.

Tip:If you manually convert tagnames and you no longer need the original tag defined in the original
Tagname Dictionary, you can update the tagname use counts and then delete the unused tag.

By importing a window or QuickScript from another applicatio n, and converting all of the tagnames
associated with the animation links or QuickScript(s) to remote tagname references, you can create an
application that instantly receives data from hundreds of remote tagnames without defining a single tag
in your local Tagname Dictionary.

Advanced Formatting for Text

Using InTouch WindowMaker, you can configure the intelligent or advanced formatting options, which
will be used at run time by InTouch WindowViewer. Thes e options only apply if you are usi ng the
advanced formatting features on an analog value display or analog user input animation. The present
value of InTouch WindowViewer will be retained if you do not configure advanced formatting options.
The advanced formatting options appear in the Input -> Analog Tagname dialog box and the Output ->
Analog Expression dialog box.
Advanced formatting of numeric value display provides you with a native way of formatting numerical
data based on data type and data quality. Advanced formatting enables you to format analog values at
run time in InTouch WindowViewer.

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You can either use text string or enable the advanced formatting options on an individual animation
basis. When you migrate an animation from an earlier InTouc h version, or create an animation for the
first time, text string is set as the default setting.
The advanced formatting configuration options are:
 Text string, which uses the existing InTouch formatting.
 Real, which is formatted as the real value bas ed on the size of the value at run time. The global
decimal precision configuration is used to det ermine the number of decimal places.
 Fixed decimal point, of which the formatting depends on the type of values:
o Real values: The value is formatted with the user-specified number of decimal places configured
using the Preci sion control.
o Integer values: The value is formatted as an integer without a decimal point and is indented on
the right to accommodat e for where the decimal places would have been.
o Discrete values: The value is formatted as a 0 or 1 without a decimal point and is indented on the
right to accommodate for where the decimal places would have been.
 Integer, which is always formatted as an integer without a decimal point.
 Exponential, which is always formatted as an exponent taking int o consideration the fixed decimal
point.
 Hex, which is displayed in hexadecimal format based on the configured Boolean range.
 Binary, which is always formatted as a binary string taking into consideration the configured Boolean
range.
In the Fixed Width box, you can increase the text size specified in design time. This option is not
available if Text String formatting is selected for the formatting style.
At design time, if you have selected the Fixed Width check box in the animation configuration, then the
value rendered at run time does not exceed the length of the text field. If the value exceeds the length of
the text field, the globally configured "Fixed Field Width Too Large Character" takes the length of the text
field. Formatting with fix ed width stops the text element from expanding horizontally at run time to
accommodate a value size.
If you do not specify any text for the text field at design time, the fixed width setting is ignored and the full
value is shown. For instance, if you enter "" (no text) at design time, it is equivalent to 0 for the text field
width. This does not allow any text to be rendered if the Fixed Width option is enabled. In this situation,
the Fixed Field Width setting is set to "None" as default at run time.
If you click Clear, the advanced formatting options are reset to the following:
 Text String is selected for the Formatting option.
 The Fixed Field Width option is cleared and subsequently disabled since this option is not available
when Text String formatting is selected.
The following values are set by default:
 0 is set for the Fixed Decimal precision control.
 0 is set for the Exponential precision control.
 0 and 31 are set for the Hex bit range controls.
 0 and 31 are set for the Binary bit range controls.
Format Control s:

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 The Precision control accepts an integer value and is only enabled if you have selected the Fixed
Dec. Point or Exponential options. The valid range of integer values for this control is from 0
through 8, wit h 0 being the default value. The bit range consists of two spin controls, each of which
takes integers as inputs. These controls are only available if you have selected either the Hex or the
Binary option. For these two controls, you need to specify the bit value, ranging from 0 through 31.
You can specify the bit range in the forward or reverse order. You can also specify a single bit, using
the same bit specification for the range. The default numeric range for the bit specification is 0
through 31. The range is zero based to stay consistent with other places in InTouch where bits are
specified.
For versions of InTouch earlier than 3.5 that contain configured analog user input animations or analog
value display animations, the migrated animation is set to Text String formatting and advanced
formatting is off.
For later versions, the advanced formatting options are migrated forward.

Formatting Text Objects as Numbers

Text objects can be used to display static or dynamic numeric values. You can show the integer or real
value of an analog tag by associating a Value Display - Analog animation link to a text object.
To specify the format of an analog tag value shown by animating a text object, the following characters
are used:

Character Description

# Forces the display of an analog value to an int eger.

0 Represents a digit at each specified position of a real

number. Forces leading zeros to the integer part of a number.

, Inserts a comma at the specified position of a real number.

. Places a decimal point at the specified position of a real

number.

Other text format properties like font, size, and color apply to numeric values shown in the string.

Examples of Formatting Text Objects as Numbers

The following table shows examples of displayed analog values when animated format charac ters are
used in a text object. In these examples, the current value of a temperature I/O tag is 123.45 Cº. This tag
is assigned as the reference value of a text object using an Analog animation link.

Formatted Text Di splayed Value of the Text Object

Object

Temp = # C 124 C
Displays the temperature as an integer. Only one # needs to be
entered in the text object.

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Formatted Text Di splayed Value of the Text Object

Object

Temp = #.# C 123.5 C

The fractional part of the temperature is rounded to a single number
using the # character. The integer part of the temperature is
unchanged.

Temp = 00000 C 00124 C

Adds leading zeros to the integer part of the temperat ure.

Temp = 000.0 C 123.5 C

The fractional part of the temperature is rounded to a single digit
because of the single zero in the format.

Temp = 00.00 C 123.45 C

The original temperature value remains unchanged.

Temp = 0,000.# 0,123. 5 C

A leading zero and comma are forced at the integer part of the
temperature reference value. The fractional part is rounded to a single
number using the # character.

To specify the format of text objects as numbers

1. Create a text object in a window and insert one or more characters to format a referenc e value
associated with the text object.
2. Double-click the text object to show the Animation Links selection dialog box.
3. In the Value Display section, click Analog. The Output -> Analog Expressi on dialog box appears.

4. In the Expre ssion field, type an analog tagname or ex pression.

5. Click OK.
6. Save your changes to the window.
7. Run the application to verify the number appears correctly in the text object.

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C HAPTER 5
Wizards
In This Chapter
About Wizards .............................................................................................................................. 89
Working with Wizards.................................................................................................................... 89
Trend Objects............................................................................................................................... 93
Windows Controls Wizards ............................................................................................................ 93
Scripting Windows Controls ........................................................................................................... 98

About Wizards
Wizards are pre-designed, pre-built, and pre-programmed objects you only need to select, place and
configure for your application.

Working with Wizards

Using wizards, you do not spend time drawing the individual components for the object, or entering the
value ranges for the object, or animating the object.
 You select wizards from the Wizards/ActiveX toolbar.
 You configure wizards by typing tags and QuickScripts in configuration dialog boxes.
 When you paste a selected wizard into a window and then double -click it, the Configuration dialog
box appears.
For example, in the case of a slider wizard, the configuration includes items such as the tagname to
effect, the minimum and maximum range labels for the slider, the fill color, and so on. After the required
configuration information is provided, the wizar d is ready to use.

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You can also develop your own complex wizards to provide behind the scenes types of operations.
These operations can include creating complete display windows, creating or converting a database,
importing an Aut oCA D drawing, and configuring other applications.
Before creating your own wizards, you should investigate ArchestrA symbols, which offer wizard
functionality, but do not require programming.

Types of Wizards
Categories of wizards are shown in the Wizard Selection dialog box.

Trend Objects and Windows Controls Wizards are special wizards with unique parameters. For more
information, see Trend Objects on page 93 and Windows Controls Wizards on page 93.

Adding Wizards to the Toolbar

You can add frequently used wizards to the Wizard/ActiveX Toolbar for quick availability.
To add a wizard to the Wizards/ActiveX Toolbar
1. Click the Wizard button in the Wizards/ActiveX Toolbar. The Wizard Selection dialog box
appears.

2. In the left pane, select a wizard category, such as Sliders.

3. In the right pane, select a wizard, and then click Add to toolbar. The wizard button appears in the
toolbar.

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To remove wizards from the toolbar

1. Click the Wizard button in the Wizards/ActiveX Toolbar. The Wizard Selection dialog box
appears.
2. Click Remove from toolbar. The Remove Wizard from Toolbar dialog box appears.
3. Select the wizard to remove and click OK.

Pasting Wizard Instances

You can plac e instances of a wizard in a window.
To place a wizard in a window
1. Click the Wizard button in the Wizards/ ActiveX Toolbar. The Wizard Selection dialog box
appears. In the left pane, select a wizard category.
2. In the right pane, select a wizard.
3. Click OK.The dialog box closes, and the cursor becomes a corner symbol.
4. Click the location to put the wizard.

Configuring Wizards
After you place a wizard in your application, double -click it to configure its properties. A properties dialog
box appears that is custom to the selected wizard.
For more information on each particular type of wizard, see the wizard Help, if available.

Performing Standard Operations on Wizards

You can cut, copy, paste, delete, and duplicat e wizards, in the same way and with the same results as
with other objects.

Installing and Removing Wizards

You must install a wizard to WindowMaker so that you can use it in your application. When you remove a
wizard from WindowMaker, it is not deleted from your computer.

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To install a wizard
1. On the Special menu, point to Configure and then click Wizard/ActiveX Installation. The
Wizard/ActiveX Installation dialog box appears.

2. Select from the Li st of Uninstalled Wizards and then click Install.

To remove a wizard
1. On the Special menu, point to Configure and then click Wizard/ActiveX Installation. The
Wizard/ActiveX Installation dialog box appears.

2. In the Installed Wizards list, select the wizard to remove and then click Remove. A message box
appears asking you to confirm the deletion.

Tip: SHIFT+click or CTRL+click to make multiple selections.

3. Click Yes to remove the wizard. The wizard appears in the Li st of Uninstalled Wizards list.

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To import wizards from another directory

1. On the Special menu, point to Configure and then click Wizard/ActiveX Installation. The
Wizard/ActiveX Installation dialog box appears.
2. Click Search. The Brow se for Folders dialog box appears.
3. Browse t o the directory containing the wizards to install and click OK. The Wizard Installation dialog
box reappears with the imported wizards in the Li st of Uninstalled Wizards.

Trend Objects
Trend objects are wizards that chart the values of tags over time.
There are three main types of trend objects:
 Real-time trends chart up to four tags in real time.
 Historical trends chart up to eight tags over a past time period.
 16 Pen trends chart real -time and historical data for up to sixteen tags.
There is no limit to the number of trend objects, real-time or historical, you can place in a window.
Configure trend objects with the following items:
 Time span
 Value range
 Grid resolution
 Location of time and value stamps
 Pens and colors
Before you can use a trend wizard, you must enable logging for each tag to track, and also enable
logging within the InTouch application.
To enable logging for tags
1. From the Tagname Dictionary, select a tag and then select Log Data.
2. If you have not done so previously, enable logging in the InTouch application.
a. On the Special menu, point to Configure, and then click Historical Logging. The Hi storical
Logging Properties dialog box appears.
b. Select the Enable Historical Logging check box and click OK.
For more information on configuring and using trend objects, see Trending Tag Datain t he InTouch® HMI
Data Management Guide.

Windows Controls Wizards

The Windows Controls Wizards are user interfac e objects such as drop-down lists, combo boxes, option
selections or check boxes.
Use Windows Control Wizards to present predefined sets of choices to your us ers. For example, you
might create a drop down list of processes, recipes, or operat or IDs. You can also enable and disable
specified controls. You can even load and modify the cont ents of drop-down lists.
Run-time properties for Windows Cont rols Wizards are accessed through QuickScript functions rather
than animation link expressions.
Windows Controls Wizards have properties like InTouch tag dot fields. They can be read-write or
read-only. Some properties are accessible at development and some at run time. They are identified as
Cont rolName.x, where x is the property.

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For example, if the .Visible property of a windows control is equal to 0, the control is not visible in the
window. As with InTouch tags, .Value is the default property for Windows Control Wizards.

Note: A more robust and flexible set of .NE T based Windows controls is available if you use ArchestrA
Symbols.

Creating and Configuring Windows Controls

When you create and configure Windows Cont rol Wizards, keep in mind that:
 Windows Control Wizards cannot overlap one another.
 During run time, Windows Control Wizards will always be on top if they overlap with other objects in
the window.
 Each Windows Cont rol Wizard has a unique cont rol name—whic h does not add to the tag count.
 The initial value of tags assigned to either a list box or combo box does not initialize the value of the
list box or combo box. You must use the SetProperty X QuickS cript functions in a script to assign
initial values that need to be different than the default values.

Tip: Paste Windows Controls Wizards into your windows just like other wizards. To achieve the best
readability, select a gray background for your windo ws controls. If your background color cannot be gray,
place a gray Panel Wizard behind the Windows Control Wizards.

For each Windows Controls Wizard, you must specify an alphanumeric control name, where the first
character is a letter. Underscores are allo wed, but other special characters are not. For ex ample,
"Checkbox_1" is allowed, but "Checkbox#1" is not.
You can configure Windows Control Wizards using InTouch QuickScripts.

Creating a Text Box

You use text boxes in your application to enable operators to enter text strings.
To create and configure a text box
1. Create and place a text box. Do the following:
a. From the Wizard Selection dialog box, select Windows Control Wizards. The cont rol wizard
icons appear.
b. Double-click the text box icon. Your application window reappears and the cursor changes to a
left corner symbol.
c. Click a location in the application window to place the wizard. The text box wizar d appears with
heavy black handles at the corners.

d. Drag and resize the wizard to suit your application.

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2. Double-click the wizard. The Textbox Control dialog box appears.

3. Configure the dialog box. Do the following:

a. Type a control name, such as TextBox_1, in the ControlName box.
b. Type a memory message tag name, such as New_Value, in the Tagname box.
c. In the Properties area, select Enable Input and Vi sible.
4. Click OK. The Textbox Control dialog box closes.

Creating a List Box

You can create applications that enable your users to select items from a list of options.
When adding a list box to your application, you place the control on the screen, set the properties to
configure the list, and then write any scripts you may need.
List boxes can be loaded with items from a file or from keyboard input during run time. For more
information, see Scripting Windows Controls on page 98.
To create a list box
1. Create and place the list box control. Do the following:
a. In the Wizard Selection dialog box, select Windows Control s.
b. Double-click the list box icon. Your application window reappears and the cursor changes to a
left corner symbol.
c. Click a location in the application window to place the control. The list box control appears.

2. Double-click the control. The Li stBox Control dialog box appears.

3. Configure the control. Do the following:

a. Type a control name, such as ListBox_1, in the ControlName box.

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b. Type a memory message tag name, such as LB1_Value, in the Tagname box.
c. In the Properties area, configure how the cont rol appears and functions.
4. Click OK.

Creating a Combo Box

You can creat e applications that enable your users to select items from lists of options with a combo box.
A combo box is a Windows cont rol combining a text box and a list box.
When adding a combo box to your application, place the cont rol on the screen, set the properties to
configure the combo box, and then write any scripts you may need.
Combo boxes can be loaded with items from a file or from keyboard input during run time. F or more
information, see Scripting Windows Controls on page 98.
To create a combo box
1. Create and place the combo box control. Do the following:
a. In the Wizard Selection dialog box, select Windows Control s.
b. Double-click the combo box icon. Your application window reappears and the cursor changes to
a left corner symbol.
c. Click a location in the application window to place the control. The combo box control appears.

2. Double-click the control. The ComboBox Control dialog box appears.

3. Configure the control. Do the following:

a. Type a control name, such as ComboBox_1, in the ControlName box.
b. Type a memory message tag name, such as CB1_V alue, in the Tagname box.
c. In the Properties area, configure how the cont rol appears and functions.
d. In the Style area, select the type of combo box.
4. Click OK.

Creating a Check Box

A check box control enables an operator to select an option.

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To configure a check box control

1. Create the check box. Do the following:
a. From the Wizard Selection dialog box, select Windows Control Wizards. The cont rol wizard
icons appear.
b. Double-click the check box icon. Your application window reappears and the cursor changes to a
Left corner symbol.
c. Click a location in the application window to place the wizard. The check box wiz ard appears.

d. Drag and resize the wizard.

2. Double-click the wizard. The Checkbox Control dialog box appears.

3. Configure the wizard. Do the following:

a. Type the control name.
b. Type the discrete tag name, or double-click the empty tagname box to show the Select
Tagname dialog, and select a tag.
c. Type the caption to appear on the face of the button.
4. Click OK.

Creating a Radio Button Group

You use radio buttons when the user must select from one of several choices. When a user selects an
option, the previously selected option is un-selected.
You creat e the options for a user as a group of radio buttons. Each radio button has a caption, and
provides a unique value to your script.
You can only assign int eger tags to radio button controls.
To create a Radio Button group
1. Create the Radio Button control wizard. Do the following:
a. From the Wizard Selection dialog box, select Windows Control Wizards. The cont rol wizard
icons appear.
b. Double-click the Radio button icon. Your application window reappears and the cursor changes
to a left corner symbol.

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c. Click a location in the application window to place the wizard. The Radio Group control wiz ard
appears with three radio buttons.

d. Drag and resize the wizard to suit your application.

2. Double-click the wizard. The Radio Button Group Control dialog box appears.

3. Configure the wizard. Do the following:

a. Type the control name.
b. Type an integer type tag name to link to this control.
c. Type the number of buttons to show.
d. Type the captions for each button.
e. Set the layout and properties.
4. Click OK.

Scripting Windows Controls

You can use QuickScript functions in scripts to:
 Get or set the value of a control.
 Enable, disable, or hide a control.
 Work with items in combo boxes, list boxes, text boxes, and check boxes.
The run-time properties can be either read-write or read-only, depending on the property.
Use the GetP roperty X() and SetProperty X() functions to control or retrieve these properties.

Getting or Setting the Value of a Control

The .Value property is the default property for all InTouch Windows Cont rols Wizards.
Changes made to this property are synchronized in the InTouch tagname and the Windows Controls
Wizards.

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.Value Dotfield
Default property for all InTouch windows control wizards. Changes made to this property are
synchronized in the InTouch tagname and the windows control wizards.
Category
windows cont rol
Usage
The M, I and D are for the Memory, Integer and Discrete versions of the GetProperty and SetProperty
functions.
[ErrorNumber=]GetPropertyM("ControlName[.Value]", Tagname);
[ErrorNumber=]SetPropertyM("ControlName[.Value]", Value);
[ErrorNumber=]GetPropertyI("ControlName[.Value]", Tagname);
[ErrorNumber=]SetPropertyI("ControlName[.Value]", Value);
[ErrorNumber=]GetPropertyD("ControlName[.Value]", Tagname);
[ErrorNumber=]SetPropertyD("ControlName[.Value]", Value);
Parameters
Cont rolName
Name of the windows control, e.g., ChkBox_4.
Tagname
The tagname to which the value of the property is written.
[.Value]
This property is optional. If not specified, the function always assumes the .Value property is being
used.
Value
The actual value to be written or a valid InTouch tagname (of the same type as the property to be
written to) that holds the property value to be written when the function is processed.
Remarks
The initial value of tagnames assigned to either a list box or combo box cannot be used to initialize the
value of the list box or combo box.
This dotfield is read/writ e during development and run time. If the .Value dot field is accessed by
associating a t agname t o either a list box or a combo box, it is read -only. If t he .Value dotfield is assigned
to a check box, radio button, or text box, it is read/write. The value you specify at development serves as
the default for run time.
Data Type
Message (read/write) for text boxes, list boxes and combo boxes.
Integer (read/ write) for radio buttons.
Discrete (read/write) for check boxes.
Applies To
Text boxes, list boxes, combo boxes, check boxes and radio buttons.
Example(s)
The following statement sets the .Value dot field of the radio button object "RadioB utton_1" to a value of
4:
SetPropertyI( "RadioButton_1.Value", 4 );

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See Also
GetPropertyM(), SetPropertyM(), GetPropertyI(), SetPropertyI(), GetPropertyD(), SetPropertyD()

Enabling or Disabling a Control for User Input

Use the .Enabled property to determine whether the cont rol object can respond to operator-generated
events.

.Enabled Dotfield
Determines whet her the control object can res pond to user -generated events.
Category
windows cont rol
Usage
[ErrorNumber=] GetPropertyD("ControlName.Enabled",
Tagname);
[ErrorNumber=] SetPropertyD("ControlName.Enabled",
Discrete);
Parameters
Cont rolName
Name of the windows control. For example, ChkBox_4.
Tagname
A discrete tagname that holds the property requested.
Discrete
A discrete value or a discrete tagname that holds the value to be written when the function is
processed. For a discret e value:
0 = Control is disabled.
1 = Control is enabled.
Remarks
This property is read/write during both development and run time.
Data Type
Discrete (read/write)
Applies To
Text boxes, list boxes, combo boxes, check boxes and radio buttons.
Example(s)
The following statement disables the list box object named "ListBox_1".
SetPropertyD("ListBox_1.Enabled", 0);
See Also
GetPropertyD(), SetPropertyD()

Hiding Windows Controls Dynamically

Use the .Visible property to determine whether the windows control is visible in the window.

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.Visible Dotfield
Determines whet her the windows control is visible in the window.
Category
windows cont rol
Usage
[ErrorNumber=]GetPropertyD("ControlName.Visible", Tagname);
[ErrorNumber=]SetPropertyD("ControlName.Visible", Number);
Parameters
Cont rolName
Name of the windows control. For example, ListBox_1.
Tagname
A tagname (of the same type to be returned) that holds the property value when the function is
processed.
Number
A discrete value or a discrete tagname that holds the value to be written when the function is
processed. For a discret e value:
0 = Control is invisible.
1 = Control is visible.
Remarks
This property is read/write in both development and run time.
Data Type
Discrete (read/write)
Valid Values
Applies To
Text boxes, list boxes, combo boxes, check boxes and radio buttons.
Example(s)
The following statement hides the text box named "TextBox_1".
SetPropertyD("TextBox_1.Visible",0);
See Also
GetPropertyD(), SetPropertyD()

Adding and Deleting Items in Combo Boxes

Use the following script functions to add and delete items from combo boxes and lists

Script function Effect

wcAddItem() Adds an item to the end of the list of a list box or combo box. If
sorting is enabled, the list is sorted aft er the item is added.

wcIns ertItem() Adds an item at a specified position in the list of a list box or combo
box.

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Script function Effect

wcDeleteItem() Delet es an item from a specified position in the list of a list box or
combo box.

wcDeleteSelection() Delet es the currently selected item from the list or combo box.

wcClear() Removes all items from the list or combo box.

wcAddItem() Function
Adds an item to the end of the list of a list box or combo box. If sorting is enabled, the list is sorted after
the item is added.
Category
windows cont rol
Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]wcAddItem("ControlName", "MessageTag");
Parameters
Cont rolName
The name of the windows control object. For example, ListBox_1. Actual string or message
tagname.
MessageTag
The message string to be shown. Actual string or message tagname.
Remarks
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages on page 115.
Applies To
List boxes and combo boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement adds the contents of the message string to the list box when the window (using
On Show Window QuickScript) containing the list box is opened:
wcAddItem("ListBox_1", "Chocolate");
wcAddItem("ListBox_1", "Vanilla");
wcAddItem("ListBox_1", "Strawberry");
See Also
wcIns ertItem()

wcInsertItem() Function
Inserts the specified string into the list of a list box or combo box at the specified position. Unlike the
wcAddItem() function, the wc InsertItem() function does not sort a list, even if it is created as a sorted list
box or combo box.
Category
windows cont rol

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Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]wcInsertItem("ControlName", ItemPosition, "Message");
Parameters
Cont rolName
The name of the windows control object. For example, ListBox_1. Actual string or message
tagname.
ItemPosition
A number corresponding to the position of the item to be added. If this parameter is -1, the string is
added to the end of the list. Any number or Integer tagname.
Message
Cont ains the string to insert at the position indicated by It emPosition. Actual string or message
tagname.
Remarks
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages on page 115.
Applies To
List boxes and combo boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement inserts a new item c alled "Blueberry" into a list box at fourth position from the top
when an action script runs.
wcInsertItem("ListBox_1", 4, "Blueberry");
See Also
wcAddItem()

wcDeleteItem() Function
Delet es the item at a specified position from the list of either a list box or combo box.
Category
windows cont rol
Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]wcDeleteItem("ControlName", ItemPosition);
Parameters
Cont rolName
The name of the windows control object. For example, ListBox_1. Actual string or message
tagname.
ItemPosition
A number corresponding to the position of the item. Any number or Integer tagname.
Remarks
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages on page 115.
Applies To
List boxes and combo boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement deletes the third item in a list when an action script runs:
wcDeleteItem("ListBox_1", 3);

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wcDeleteSelection() Function
Delet es the currently selected item from the list.
Category
windows cont rol
Syntax
[ErrorNumber =]wcDeleteSelection("ControlName");
Parameter
Cont rolName
The name of the windows control object. For example, ListBox_1. Actual string or message
tagname.
Remarks
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages on page 115.
Applies To
List boxes and combo boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement deletes the currently selected item in a list box list when an action script runs:
wcDeleteSelection("ListBox_1");

wcClear() Function
Removes all items from the list box or combo box.
Category
windows cont rol
Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]wcClear("ControlName");
Parameters
Cont rolName
The name of the windows control object. For example, ListBox_1. Actual string or message
tagname.
Remarks
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages on page 115.
Applies To
List boxes and combo boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement clears all items in a list box when an action script runs:
wcClear("ListBox_1");

Loading and Saving List Items From or To a File

Use the following script functions to load and or save items in a combo box or list from or to a file.

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Script function Effect

wcLoadList() Loads the contents of a list box or combo box with new
items from a file.

wcSaveList() Saves the contents of a list box or combo box to a file.

wcLoadList() Function
Loads a list box or combo box with new items from a file.
Category
windows cont rol
Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]wcLoadList("ControlName", "Filename");
Parameters
Cont rolName
The name of the windows control object. For example, ListBox_1. Actual string or message
tagname.
Filename
Cont ains the name of a file. If you do not supply a complete path name as part of the message
parameter, the function checks the application directory for the message file. Actual string or
message tagname.
Remarks
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages on page 115.
If you use external files to fill the list and combo boxes, they must follow specific formatting and contain
specific information. Format:
Cont rolType, ListCount
ListItem, ItemIndex
ListItem, ItemIndex
: :
: :
ListItem, ItemIndex
The ControlType is either COMBOBOX or LIS TB OX.
For example, you want to load a list file to a combo box and it contains three items to select from and
those items have no item data assigned. The format of the file appears as:
COMBOB OX, 3
Choc olate, 0
Vanilla, 0
Strawberry, 0

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The COMBOB OX is the control type. The list count is 3 for Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry. Chocolate
is then listed as the first item or position 1. Vanilla as position 2, and Strawberry as position 3. Each of
these items has a data value of 0.
For more information on item data, see wcSetItemData() Function on page 111.
Applies To
List boxes and combo boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement loads a properly formatted list (located in c: \wclist.txt.) into a combo box:
wcLoadList("Combobox_1", "c:\wclist.txt");
See Also
wcAddItem(), wcSaveList()

wcSaveList() Function
Saves the items of a list box or combo box to a file.
Category
windows cont rol
Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]wcSaveList("ControlName","Filename");
Parameters
Cont rolName
The name of the windows control object. For example, ListBox_1. Actual string or message
tagname.
Filename
Cont ains the name of a file. If the file does not exist, it is created. Actual string or message tagname.
Remarks
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages on page 115.
Applies To
List boxes and combo boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement saves the current items in a list box in a file (c: \newlist.txt) when an action script
runs:
wcSaveList("ListBox_1", "c:\newlist.txt");
See Also
wcLoadList(), wcSetItemData()

Finding Items In a Combo Box or List

Use the wcFindItem() function to search for a specified item in a list box or combo b ox. If the item is
found, this function returns the corresponding position to an integer tagname as the fourth parameter.

wcFindItem() Function
Determines the corresponding position of the first item in the list box or combo box that matches the
supplied message string.

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Category
windows cont rol
Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]wcFindItem ("ControlName", "MessageTag", CaseSens, Tagname);
Parameters
Cont rolName
The name of the windows control object. For example, ListBox_1. Actual string or message
tagname.
MessageTag
The message string to be compared. Actual string or message tagname.
CaseSens
Determines the type of the string comparison. It can either be a discrete value or tagname. The
following values are valid:
0 = case-insensitive.
1 = case-sensitive.
Tagname
Integer tag into which the position of the matching item is returned. If no matching item is found, -1 is
returned.
Remarks
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages on page 115.
Applies To
List boxes, combo boxes
Example(s)
Assuming that ListBox_1 is a list box that contains " ItemA", "ItemB", and "ItemC", the function returns the
following values into Result:
wcFindItem("ListBox_1", "ItemB", 0, Result);
returns 2
wcFindItem("ListBox_1", "Itemb", 1, Result);
returns -1
wcFindItem("ListBox_1", "itemc", 0, Result);
returns 3
wcFindItem("ListBox_1", "XYZ", 0, Result);
returns -1

Working with Item Indexes in a Combo Box or List

Use the following dot fields to work with the item index of a list box or combo b ox.

Dot Field Effect

.TopIndex The integer index of the topmost item in the list box.

.NewIndex The integer index (tagname) of the last item added to the list box or combo
box through the wcAddItem() or wc InsertItem() functions.

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Dot Field Effect

.ListIndex The index (tagname or number) of the currently selected item in the list.

.TopIndex Dotfield
Sets or reads the integer index of the top-most item in a list box.
Category
windows cont rol
Usage
[ErrorNumber=]GetPropertyI("ControlName.TopIndex", Tagname);
[ErrorNumber=]SetPropertyI("ControlName.TopIndex", Number);
Parameters
Cont rolName
Name of the windows control. For example, ListBox_1.
Tagname
An Integer tagname that holds the property value when the function is processed.
Number
The index number that defines the top-most item in the list box. Can be a literal integer value or a
integer tagname or expression that provides an integer value.
Remarks
This property is available only in run time.
Data Type
Integer (read/ write)
Applies To
List boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement sets the TopIndex of the list box object "ListBox_1" to a value of 14:
SetPropertyI("ListBox_1.TopIndex",14);
See Also
GetPropertyI(), SetPropertyI(), .ListIndex, .NewIndex

.NewIndex Dotfield
Returns the integer index (Tagname) of the last item added to the list box or combo box via the
wcAddItem() or wcInsert Item().
Category
windows cont rol
Usage
[ErrorNumber=]GetPropertyI("ControlName.NewIndex", Tagname);

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Parameters
Cont rolName
Name of the windows control. For example, ListBox_4.
Tagname
A tagname containing the int eger index of the last item added to the list or combo box. For empty
lists, a value of -1 is returned.
Remarks
This property is only available in run time.
Data Type
Integer (read-only)
Applies To
List boxes and combo boxes.
Example
The following statement ret rieves the index of the most recently added item in the list box named
"ListBox_1" and writes that value to the memory integer tagname NewItemIndex.
GetPropertyI("ListBox_1.NewIndex", NewItemIndex);
See Also
GetPropertyI(), wcAddItem(), wcInsert Item(), .ListIndex, .TopIndex

.ListIndex Dotfield
Sets or reads the index (Tagname or Number) of the currently selected item in the list.
When using a list box, an index of -1 indicates that no item is currently selected.
When using a combo box, an index of -1 indicat es that the user has typed new text into the text entry field
of the control.
Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]GetPropertyI("ControlName.ListIndex", Tagname);
[ErrorNumber=]SetPropertyI("ControlName.ListIndex", Number);
Parameter
Cont rolName
Name of the windows control. For example, ListBox_4.
Tagname
The tagname to which the index of the currently selected item is written.
Number
The index number that defines a specific item in the list.
Remarks
The index number defines a specific item in a list. Use the .ListIndex dotfield to set or det ermine the i ndex
of the currently selected item in a list or combo box.
This property is available only in run time.
Data type
Integer (read or write)

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Applies to
List boxes and combo boxes.
Example
This statement retrieves the index of the currently selected item in the list box named "ListBox_1" and
writes that value to the memory integer tagname MyListBoxIndex.
GetPropertyI( "ListBox_1.ListIndex", MyListBoxIndex );
See Also
GetPropertyI(), SetPropertyI(), .NewIndex, .TopIndex

Counting List Box or Combo Box Items

The .ListCount dot field contains the number of items in a list box or combo box.

.ListCount Dotfield
Reads the number of items in the list box or combo box.
Category
Windows control
Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]GetPropertyI("ControlName.ListCount", Tagname);
Parameter
Cont rolName
Name of the windows control.
Tagname
A valid tagname that contains the integer count of the items in the list.
Remarks
This property is available only in run time.
Data Type
Integer (read-only)
Applies To
List boxes and combo boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement ret rieves the number of items in the list box named ListBox_1 and writ es that
value to the memory integer tag MyListBoxCount.
GetPropertyI("ListBox_1.ListCount", MyListBoxCount);
See Also
GetPropertyI(), .ListIndex

Getting or Setting the Value of a List Item

Use the wcGetItemDat a() function to find the integer value associated with the list item identified by the
item index.
Use the wcSetIt emData() function to assign an integer value to the item in the list specified by item index.
This assigns a number to a string.

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wcGetItemData() Function
Reads the integer value associated with the list item identified by the ItemIndex parameter.
Category
windows cont rol
Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]wcGetItemData("ControlName", ItemIndex, Tagname);
Parameters
Cont rolName
The name of the windows control object. For example, ListBox_1. Actual string or message
tagname.
ItemIndex
A number corresponding to the position of the item. Any number or integer tagname.
Tagname
Actual name of a real or integer tagname. The wc GetItemData() function places the numeric value
corresponding to the item into this tagname upon return from the function.
Remarks
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Erro r Messages on page 115.
Applies To
List boxes and combo boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement retrieves the numeric value associated with t he fifth item in a list box and returns
it to the ItemValue Integer tagname when an action script runs:
wcGetItemData("ListBox_1", 5, ItemValue);
If the fifth item in the list is assigned the integer value 4500, the ItemValue tagname contains 4500.
See Also
wcSetItemData()

wcSetItemData() Function
Assigns an integer value of the item (t he Number parameter) to the item in the list specified by the
ItemIndex parameter. This function enables the assignment of a number to a string.
Category
windows cont rol
Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]wcSetItemData("ControlName", ItemIndex, Number);
Parameters
Cont rolName
The name of the windows control object. For example, ListBox_1. Actual string or message
tagname.
ItemIndex
An integer value specifying the list item you want to edit. Any number or Int eger tagname.
Number
An integer value representing the item data. Any number or Integer tagname.

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Remarks
You can create complet e lists containing the items using a program like Notepad and then load them
using one function call. Format the list as required by the wcSaveList() function.
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages on page 115.
Use the wcGetItemDat a() function to return the value (item data) associated wit h the list item. The
tagname parameter contains the returned numeric value. This parameter could be an I/O Integer
tagname that writes directly to the real world device.
Example(s)
A recipe has three ingredients; flour, sugar and salt. The quantity of flour is 4500 grams, sugar is 1500
and salt is 325 grams. The values are assigned t o each of the list box items by using a data change script
triggered by what recipe (tagname, RecipeName) is selected:
wcSetItemData("ListBox_1", 1, 4500); {set 1st item in the list (flour)=4500}
wcSetItemData("ListBox_1", 2, 1500); {set 2nd item in the list (sugar)=1500}
wcSetItemData("ListBox_1", 3, 325); {set 3rd item in the list (salt)=325}
See Also
wcLoadList(), wcSaveList(), wcGetItemData()

Getting the Name of a List Item

Use the wcGet Item() function to return the item string associated with the cor responding it em index in the
list box or combo box.

wcGetItem() Function
Returns a string containing the contents of the item corresponding to the ItemIn dex in the list box or
combo box.
Category
windows cont rol
Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]wcGetItem("ControlName", ItemIndex, Tagname);
Parameters
Cont rolName
The name of the windows control object. For example, ListBox_1. Actual string or message
tagname.
ItemIndex
A number corresponding to the position of the item. Any number or Integer tagname.
Tagname
Message tagname. The wc GetItem function will place the data corresponding to the item index into
this tagname upon return from the function.
Remarks
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages on page 115.
Applies To
List boxes and combo boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement ret urns the string value of the tenth item in a combo box to the ListSelection
message tag when an action script runs:

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wcGetItem("Combobox_1", 10, ListSelection);

If item ten in the list is "Vanilla," then the ListSelection tag contains the string "Vanilla".

Loading the Contents of a Text Box

Use the wcLoadText() function to load the contents of a text box from a file. Use the wcSaveText()
function to save the contents of a text box to a text file.

Note: If the tag name has been defined with a maximum length, only that number of characters can be
assigned from t he text box contents to the tag. If no tag is assigned to the text box, its contents can be up
to 65,535 characters.

wcLoadText() Function
Replaces the contents of the text box with the cont ents of the file.
Category
windows cont rol
Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]wcLoadText("ControlName", "Filename");
Parameters
Cont rolName
The name of the windows control object. For example, ListBox_1. Actual string or message
tagname.
Filename
Cont ains the name of a file. If a complete path name is not supplied as part of the message
parameter, the function will check the application direc tory for the file. Actual string or message
tagname.
Remarks
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages on page 115.
Applies To
Text boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement loads a text file (c:\InTouch. 32\readme.txt.) into a text box when the window (On
Show Window script) containing the text box opens:
wcLoadText("Textbox_1", "c:\InTouch.32\readme.txt");

wcSaveText() Function
Saves the text contained in the text box to the specified file. If the file doesn't exist, it is created. If it does
exist, it must be read/write.
Category
windows cont rol
Syntax
[ErrorNumber=]wcSaveText("ControlName", "Filename");

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Parameters
Cont rolName
The name of the windows control object. For example, ListBox_1. Actual string or message
tagname.
Filename
Cont ains the name of the destination file. If you do not supply a complete path name, the file is saved
in the application directory. If the file exists, it is overwritten. If the file does not exist, it is created. The
resulting file can subsequently be loaded into a text box object using the wcLoadText() function.
Actual string or message tagname.
Remarks
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages on page 115.
Applies To
Text boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement saves the current information entered in a text box to a file in
c:\InTouch.32\newtext.txt when an action script runs:
wcSaveText("Textbox_1", "c:\InTouch.32\newtext.txt");
See Also
wcLoadText()

Checking If a Text Box is Read-Only

Use the .ReadOnly dot field to determine whet her the content of the text box is read -only or read/ write.

.ReadOnly Dotfield
Determines whet her the content of the text box is read -only or read/ write.
Category
windows cont rol
Usage
[ErrorNumber=]GetPropertyD("ControlName.ReadOnly", Tagname);
Parameters
Cont rolName
Name of the windows control. For example, Textbox_1.
Tagname
A discrete tagname that holds the property value when the function is processed.
0 = Contents of the text box is read/ write
1 = Contents of the text box is read -only
Remarks
This property is available in both development and run time.
Data Type
Discrete (read-only)

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Applies To
Text boxes.
Example(s)
The following statement ret rieves the read -only status of the Text box named " TextBox_1":
GetPropertyD("TextBox_1.ReadOnly",A_Tagname);
See Also
GetPropertyD(), SetPropertyD()

Getting or Setting the Label of a Check Box

The .Caption dotfield defines the message text of a check box.

.Caption Dotfield
Determines the message to be displayed with the check box.
Category
windows cont rol
Usage
[ErrorNumber=]GetPropertyM ("ControlName.Caption", Tagname);
[ErrorNumber=]SetPropertyM ("ControlName.Caption", "Message");
Parameters
Cont rolName
Name of the windows control. For example, ChkBox_4.
Tagname
A message tagname that holds the property requested.
Message
A message string surrounded in quotes.
Remarks
This property is read/write during both development and run time.
Data Type
Message (read/write)
Applies To
Check boxes.
Example
This statement sets the caption of the check box object "CheckBox_1" to "Blue Paint Option."
SetPropertyM("CheckBox_1.Caption","Blue Paint Option");
See Also
GetPropertyM(), SetPropertyM()

Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages

Given an error number, wcErrorMessage(), returns a string message describing the error. It applies to list
boxes, text boxes, combo boxes, radio buttons and check boxes.

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The Window Controls functions return values based on the result of proc essing QuickScript functions.
The return value is used for error diagnostics. You can assign these values to integer tag names. For
example:
ErrorNumber = wcGetItem("ControlName", Number, Tagname);
In this script, ErrorNumber is an integer tag that contains the ret urned error value. The returned value
of the function can be passed to the wcErrorMessage(). The wcErrorMessage() will return a string
description of the error. For example:
ErrorMsg = wcErrorMessage(ErrorNumber);
In this script, ErrorMsg is a message type tag that contains the text of the returned error. The following
table identifies numeric error values and their definitions.

Error Definition
Message

0 Success

-1 General failure

-2 Insufficient memory available

-3 Property is read-only

-4 Specified item already present

-5 Object name unknown

-6 Property name unknown

-x Unknown error.

wcErrorMessage() Function
Returns a message string describing the error.
Category
windows cont rol
Syntax
ErrorMessage=wcErrorMessage(ErrorNumber);
Parameters
ErrorMessage
Message tagname.
ErrorNumber
Number returned by all windows control functions. Any number or Integer tagname.
Remarks
For a list of returned error numbers, see Understanding Windows Controls Error Messages on page 115.
Applies To
List boxes, text boxes, combo boxes, check boxes and radio buttons.

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Example(s)
If an error occurs while a list is being loaded, show the text description of the error into the
ErrorDescription message tagname. In this example, a Value Display animation link is assigned to the
ErrorDescription tagname to show the error message.
In the "On Show" window QuickScript:
ErrorNumber=wcLoadList("ListBox_1","c:\recipe.txt");
ErrorDescription=wcErrorMessage(errornumber);
You can use this function with all windows control functions to show error messages:
ErrorNumber=wcAddItem("ListBox_1","AM_4A4356");
ErrorMsg=wcErrorMessage(ErrorNumber);

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C HAPTER 6
ActiveX Controls
In This Chapter
About ActiveX Controls ............................................................................................................... 119
Using ActiveX Controls................................................................................................................ 120
Configuring ActiveX Controls ....................................................................................................... 121
Naming ActiveX Controls............................................................................................................. 121
Standard Operations on ActiveX Controls ..................................................................................... 122
Installing and Removing ActiveX Cont rols .................................................................................... 122

About ActiveX Controls

ActiveX cont rols are stand-alone software components that bring additional functionality to InTouc h
applications.
You can use several types of ActiveX cont rols in your InTouch application.
 The InTouch HMI includes ActiveX controls for alarming.
 Other products, such as ActiveFactory, provide controls for manipulating and analyzing data.
 You can use third-party ActiveX controls.
 You can develop your own ActiveX cont rols in Visual Basic or C.
You can use any number of ActiveX controls in your InTouch application. You can:
 Select and paste an ActiveX control into any application window.
 Adjust the size of the control, if sizing is supported by the control.
 Duplicat e, cut, copy, paste and delete ActiveX controls.
 Align ActiveX controls: left, right, top, bottom, and center point.
 Add ActiveX controls to the Wizards/ActiveX Toolbar.
 Combine ActiveX controls with other objects when creating a cell.
 Use the properties, methods, and events supported by the particular ActiveX control properties.
InTouch applications do not support the following types of ActiveX controls:
 Windowless controls
 Simple frame site or area box
 Cont ainers
 Data cont rols
 Dispatch objects
InTouch applications only support these data types: discrete (Boolean), integer (32 -bit numbers), real
(floating point IEEE notation with 32 bits), and message (strings up to 131 characters). Unsupported data
types include variant, pointers, arrays, structures, and parameterized properties.

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ActiveX controls cannot overlap ot her InTouch objects, such as window controls or graphic objects. Too
many ActiveX controls on one window can reduce system performance.

Using ActiveX Controls

You select an ActiveX control and paste it into a window and then double-click it. Its configuration dialog
box appears.
When you configure an ActiveX control, you can give it a unique control name. The control name can
then be referenc ed in scripts.
To use an ActiveX control in an InTouch application
1. Install the ActiveX control. See Installing and Removi ng ActiveX Controls on page 122.
2. Select and paste the ActiveX control int o an InTouch window.
3. Configure the ActiveX control properties and bind them to tags.
4. Associate ActiveX events to ActiveX E vent scripts.
5. Call ActiveX methods and set ActiveX cont rol properties in ActiveX E vent scripts, or other InTouch
QuickScripts.
To place an ActiveX control in a window
1. Click the Wizard Dialog tool in the Wizards/ActiveX Toolbar. The Wizard Selection dialog box
appears.

2. In the list of wizards, click the ActiveX Control s category. All available ActiveX controls appear in
the display area.
3. Double-click the ActiveX control to use. The dialog box closes and the curs or changes to the corner
symbol.
4. Click the location to paste the ActiveX cont rol.
To add ActiveX controls to the toolbar
1. Click the Wizard Dialog tool in the Wizards/ActiveX Toolbar. The Wizard Selection dialog box
appears.
2. Select the ActiveX cont rol to add.
3. Click Add to toolbar.

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To remove ActiveX controls from the toolbar

1. Click the Wizard Dialog tool in the Wizards/ActiveX Toolbar. The Wizard Selection dialog box
appears.
2. Click Remove from toolbar. The Remove Wizard from Toolbar dialog box appears.
3. Select the ActiveX cont rol to remove.
4. Click OK.

Configuring ActiveX Controls

The properties that you can configure for a particular ActiveX control are determined by the ActiveX
control itself. All properties have a default value.
You must paste an ActiveX cont rol into an InTouc h window before you can configure its properties.
 A default control name, such as Calendar1, is generat ed when you paste the ActiveX control in a
window. You reference the control name in scripts. An ActiveX c ontrol must be running in an open
application window for any script to run against it.
 You can assign the ActiveX cont rol properties to InTouc h tags. You must assign each property type
to a corresponding InTouch tag type.
ActiveX cont rols have three standard tabs: Control Name, Properties, and Events.

Use the Events tab to assign scripts to available control events, such as when the user double-clicks the
mouse.
Any other tabs and their configurations are unique to the cont rol and depend upon its properties. For
example, some cont rols may require you to configure colors and fonts, while others may not have these
properties.

Naming ActiveX Controls

A new instance of a control is created and given a unique name when you:
 Select Duplicate on the Edi t menu.
 Select Cut or Copy and then Pa ste on the Edit menu.
 Select Save Window As on the File menu.
 Click Undo and then Redo.
 Import a window that contains a control.
ActiveX cont rols must have unique names. If you try to use a name that already exists for a control, an
error message appears.

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To name an ActiveX control

1. Paste the ActiveX control into your development window.
2. Double-click the control. The control Properties dialog box appears.
3. Click the Control Name tab and then type a name for the ActiveX c ontrol in the Control Name box.

Standard Operations on ActiveX Controls

You can perform standard operations on ActiveX c ontrols just like any other InTouc h object. For more
information, see Special Manipulations for All Objects on page 47.

Installing and Removing ActiveX Controls

E ven though you have already installed an ActiveX control on your computer, you must also make it
known to the InTouc h HMI by installing it to WindowMaker.
When you remove a control from WindowMaker, it is not deleted from your computer. It is simply
removed from memory and does not function.
To install an ActiveX control
1. On the Special menu, point to Configure and then click Wizard/ActiveX Installation. The
Wizard/ActiveX Installation dialog box appears.
2. Click the ActiveX Control Installation tab. The ActiveX Control Installation property sheet
appears.

3. In the Installed ActiveX control s list, select the control to install in the Available ActiveX control s
list and then click Install.

Tip:To select multiple cont rols, use the SHIFT key or CTRL key.

4. Click OK.
To remove an ActiveX control
1. On the Special menu, point to Configure and then click Wizard/ActiveX Installation. The
Wizard/ActiveX Installation dialog box appears.
2. Click the ActiveX Control Installation tab. The ActiveX Control Installation property sheet
appears.
3. In the Installed ActiveX control s list, select the control to remove from your application and then
click Remove. A message appears asking you to confirm the deletion.

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Tip: To select multiple controls, use the SHIFT key or CTRL key.

4. Click Yes to remove the control. The control is moved to the Available ActiveX control s list.
5. Click OK.

123
Index
$
$ObjHor system tag • 67, 68
$ObjVer system tag • 67, 69

.
.Caption dot field • 115
.Enabled dot field • 100
.NewIndex dotfield • 108
.ReadOnly dotfield • 114
.TopIndex dotfield • 108
.Value dot field • 99
.Visible dotfield • 93, 101

A
action script link, creating • 74
ActiveX cont rols
about • 119
adding to toolbar • 120
definition • 39
placing on a window • 120
removing from toolbar • 120
alarm types • 61
analog data display, creating • 56
analog input, creating links • 71
anchor points • 59
ArchestrA Symbol, definition • 39

B
bitmap containers
definition • 39
bitmaps
creating a transparent bitmap • 51
importing • 49
pasting, editing • 49
blink attributes • 64
blink frequency, setting • 64
bring to front, object • 43
buttons
default fonts • 10
substitute strings • 38

C
cells
creating • 40
definition • 39
circle button • 38
close button • 24
color links
creating analog alarm status link • 61
creating analog expression link • 61
creating discrete alarm status link • 61
creating discrete fill link • 61
defining • 61
expression types • 61
color palettes
opening • 17

D
data display
analog value, creating • 56
discrete value, creating • 56
string value, creating • 56
data entry
analog input • 71
discrete • 70
string input • 72
Development fast switch • 10
DialogStringEntry() function • 77
DialogValueEntry () function • 78
disable link • 66
discrete input, creating links • 70
discrete value display, creating • 56
display links • 55
dotfields
.Caption dot field • 115
.Enabled dot field • 100
.NewIndex dotfield • 108
 .ReadOnly dotfield • 114
.TopIndex dotfield • 108
.Value dot field • 99
.Visible dotfield • 93, 101
drawing buttons • 38
drop-down lists • 93

E
ellipse button • 38
error messages
definitions • 115

F
fast switch
Development • 10
Runtime • 10
fill levels
percent • 63
fonts
configure • 10
format characters • 86
functions
DialogStringEntry() function • 77
DialogValueEntry () function • 78
ShowAt() function • 67
ShowTopLeftAt() function • 67
wcAddItem() function • 102
wcClear() function • 104
wcDeleteItem() function • 103
wcDeleteSelection() function • 104
wcErrorMessage() function • 116
wcFindItem() function • 106
wcGet Item() function • 112
wcGet ItemData() function • 111
wcIns ertItem() function • 102
wcLoadList() function • 105
wcLoadText() function • 113
wcSaveList() function • 106
wcSaveText() function • 113
wcSetItemData() function • 111
G
grid
show • 10, 12
spacing • 10, 12

H
home, windows • 27
horizonal movement • 57
horizontal line button • 38

I
importing bitmaps • 49

L
line button • 38
lines, select precision • 10
links
action script • 74
analog alarm status color, creating • 61
analog expression color, creating • 61
analog input • 71
animate objects • 55
animation • 20, 40
animation types • 55
blink • 64
cannot make symbol • 40
clipboard limitations • 48
color • 61
color link types • 61
creating movement • 57
creating rotation • 58
cut, copy, or paste • 47
disabling • 66
discrete alarm status, creating • 61
discrete color fill, creating • 61
discrete input • 70
discrete value touch links • 74
display • 55
keyboard shortcuts • 83
 location links • 57
on screen keyboards • 76
opening or closing windows • 76
orientation • 58
percent fill • 63
push buttons • 74
size links • 59
slider, creating • 73
string input • 72
symbol in a cell • 40
ToolTips • 67
touch • 55, 69
user input types • 69
value display types • 56
visibility • 65

M
maximum limit
configuring • 71
minimum limit
configuring • 71
movement
horizontal • 57
vertical • 57

O
objects
alarm types • 61
horizontal movement • 57
pick through hollow objects • 10
size height link • 59
size width link • 59
vertical movement • 57
orientation link, creating • 58
overlay, windows type • 24

P
percent fill • 63
polygons, adding or deleting points • 49
popup, windows type • 24
R
radio button group cont rol • 97
rectangle button • 38
replace, window type • 24
rounded rectangle button • 38
Runtime fast switch • 10

S
send to back, objects • 43
show hide windows • 76
ShowAt() function • 67
ShowTopLeftAt() function • 67
size height link • 59
size width link • 59
sliders, creating • 73
SmartSymbol, definition • 39
string input, creating links • 72
string value display, creating • 56
substitute strings
creating buttons • 38
text objects • 52
substituting tags • 83
symbols
combining and breaking • 40
creating or breaking • 41
definition • 39
use of • 40
system tags
$ObjHor • 68
$ObjHor • 67
$ObjVer • 67, 69

T
tags
enable logging • 93
show tag count • 10
substituting • 83
text
default fonts • 10
format numbers • 86
tool tips
creating • 67
 static or expression • 67
toolbars
changing size • 15
touch links • 55, 69
trend objects • 39

U
undo, levels of • 10
update use counts • 10

V
vertical line button • 38
vertical movement • 57
visibility link, creating • 65

W
wcAddItem() function • 102
wcClear() function • 104
wcDeleteItem() function • 103
wcDeleteSelection() function • 104
wcErrorMessage() function • 116
wcFindItem() function • 106
wcGet Item() function • 112
wcGet ItemData() function • 111
wcIns ertItem() function • 102
wcLoadList() function • 105
wcLoadText() function • 113
wcSaveList() function • 106
wcSaveText() function • 113
wcSetItemData() function • 111
WindowMaker
close on trans fer • 10
fast switch • 10
levels of undo • 10
title bar changing • 10
windows
home • 27
name • 24
opening at selected object • 67
selecting background color • 24
show hide • 76
type • 24
windows type, replace, overlay, or popup • 24
Windows XP • 24, 67
wizards
definition • 39
importing • 91
removing from the toolbar • 90