PcVue Solutions Training

Mimics

Purpose
n Customize the workspace,
n Make the Homepage mimic.
Contents

1. Introduction 3
1.1. PcVue version 3
1.2. Files used in this module 3
1.3. Third party software used in this module 3

2. This feature in PcVue architecture 4

3. Basics 5
3.1. The Workspace 5
3.2. The mimic object 8
3.2.1. Create a mimic 9
3.2.2. Operational modes 11
3.2.3. Mimic properties 11
3.2.4. How to open a mimic automatically on start-up 13

4. Summing-up 15

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 1. Introduction

1.1. PcVue version

This module applies to PcVue version 15.0.

1.2. Files used in this module

The PcVue project as at the end of Module 06.

1.3. Third party software used in this module

None.

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 2. This feature in PcVue architecture

Figure 1

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 3. Basics

3.1. The Workspace

The workspace is the name given to the area occupied by the Supervisor on the PC screen.
The workspace contains all the tools necessary to develop Supervisor applications and is
the container for the windows that form the User Interface at runtime. Within the work-
space you will find the following features:

Figure 2

l The Menu Bar: The Menu Bar provides access, using either the keyboard or the mouse,
to all the development tools. By using the mouse, the menu bar can be dragged and
docked to any outside edge of the workspace, or it can be left floating anywhere on
the screen. The menu bar may be opened and closed from a pop-up menu displayed
by clicking with the right mouse button anywhere within the workspace’s background.
A tick indicates that the menu bar is visible.

l The toolbars: The toolbars give you quick access to the most commonly used tools for
window development and run-time operation. As with the menu bar, the toolbars may
be floating or docked. You can select which toolbars are open from a pop-up menu
displayed by right-clicking anywhere on the menu bar. A tick indicates that a toolbar is
open.

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 l The Status bar: The status bar is located at the bottom of the workspace, above any
toolbars you may have docked there. It provides information on the current state of
the workspace including the current cursor position and zoom level of the active win-
dow.

You can show and hide these bars using the Function keys F6 and F8.

The workspace’s appearance and behaviour are changed using the Display/Workspace
Properties command.

Figure 3

The following properties may be changed:

l The size of the workspace and its location on the screen.

l The workspace colour.

l The appearance of the title bar and its contents.

l The tools that are available from the title bar.

l The number of monitors used (in the Regions tab).

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 Exercise 1.
Change some of the Workspace’s properties and check the effect.

Then customize it as follows:

Figure 4

The # character has special meaning in PcVue. It is used to indicate substitute

of a string. You will use this character many times in your design..

A list of the various substitutions for the title bar is available in the online Help
in: The configuration environments / The HMI / Changing the Workspace Prop-
erties.

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 3.2. The mimic object

The User Interface for your Project is developed as a set of mimics. Mimics are easily and
quickly developed to form Menus, Overviews, Process Diagrams, Trend Displays and so on.
Mimics can be linked together to form a hierarchical display.

Of course you can have several mimics opened in the same time. The list of the opened
mimics is displayed using the Window menu.

Figure 5: In this figure one mimic is open. Its name is Mimic2 and its title is Mimic1.

Figure 6: In this figure two mimics are open.

Each PcVue mimic is saved in a file of the same name - the mimic and file are effectively
one and the same. For this reason the main commands associated with mimics are found in
the File menu.

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 Figure 7

3.2.1. Create a mimic

1. Step 1 To create a new mimic, use the File / New command or Control + N keys.
A dialog opens to request the template you want to use for this mimic. Tem-
plates will be covered in another module. Click the OK button.

Figure 8

2. Step 2 To save this mimic, use the File / Save command or Control + S keys. The
Save mimic dialog appears. Enter the name and click the OK button.

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 Figure 9

Exercise 2.
Create the Homepage mimic.

Where is the Homepage file physically located?

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 What happens if I copy the Homepage file to another
project?

3.2.2. Operational modes

Mimics can be displayed in two main modes selected from the Mode toolbar.

l Run:
In Run mode the animated properties of drawing elements in the mimic are updated
in real time.

l Design:
In Design mode the properties of drawing elements do not update in real time. Draw-
ing elements may be added, modified and deleted and the support window modified.
This is the mode of operation used while you are developing a mimic.

3.2.3. Mimic properties

Each mimic (as with any object in PcVue) has a set of properties. You can display them
using the command Window / Window properties.... Because there are many properties
they are organised in a range of tabs.

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 Figure 10

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 Exercise 3.
Change the properties of the Homepage mimic as in the following screenshot:

Figure 11

3.2.4. How to open a mimic automatically on start-up

1. Step 1 Open the Application Explorer and, in the configuration tree, select the
node representing the project (Top of the tree).

2. Step 2 From the task list select Settings.

3. Step 3 Select Stations startup.

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 4. Step 4 Tick the First window option.

5. Step 5 Select the mimic name by clicking the button adjacent to the Mimic field.

Figure 12

Exercise 4.
l Configure the TRAINING project to open the Homepage mimic automatically.

l Restart PcVue to test it.

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 4. Summing-up

l The Workspace can be customized.

l A mimic is a file.

l A mimic has many properties which can be customized.

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