Visualization Element 'Trace'

Symbol:

Tag: Special Controls

The element displays the graphical curve of variable values. In addition, variables can be configured to control the view.

See also

Element properties

Element name

Example: Velocity

Data Source

Location where the trace data is buffered.

:

  • <local application>: The trace record is listed below the local application. The visualization that contains the trace is located below this application.

    When the application is downloaded, the trace configuration is downloaded to the local device. During execution, the data is stored locally in the trace buffer.

  • <data source name>: Data source that identifies the remote device where the trace record is created.

    When the local application is downloaded with the visualization, the trace configuration is downloaded to the remote device. During execution, the trace buffer is filled, and the trace data is transferred and then displayed in the local visualization as HMI.

    Example: DataSoure_PLC_A

    Note: The trace buffer is filled only if the remote application is being executed. The data recording is started when the local visualization is started.

Application

Application where data was recorded.

: Lists all applications that are present below the data source.

Requirement: A remote data source (not <local application>) is referenced in the Data source property.

Type of element

Trace

Trace

<name of trace configuration>: Opens the Trace Configuration dialog where you can modify the trace configuration.

See also

Element property 'Position'

The position defines the location and size of the element in the visualization window. This is based on the Cartesian coordinate system. The origin is located at the upper left corner of the window. The positive horizontal x-axis runs to the right. The positive vertical y-axis runs downwards.

X

The x-coordinate of the upper left corner of the element

Specified in pixels

Example: 10

Y

The y-coordinate of the upper left corner of the element

Specified in pixels

Example: 10

Width

Specified in pixels

Example: 150

Height

Specified in pixels

Example: 30

Tip: You can change the values in X, Y, Width, and Height by dragging the corresponding symbols to another position in the editor.

Angle

Static angle of rotation (in degrees)

Example: 35

The element is displayed rotated in the editor. The point of rotation is the center of the element. A positive value rotates clockwise.

Tip: You can change the value in the editor by focusing the element to the handle. When the cursor is displayed as a rotating arrow , you can rotate the element about its center as a handle.

(1): Handle

Note: If a dynamic angle of rotation is also configured in the property Absolute movement ‣ Internal rotation , then the static and dynamic angles of rotation are added in runtime mode. The static angle of rotation acts as an offset.

See also

Show cursor

: A cursor (vertical line) is displayed at the mouse position. The trigger and variable values where the cursor points are displayed as a tooltip.

Overwrite existing trace on PLC

: If a trace with the same name is on the PLC, then it is overwritten at download with the configuration that is defined here.

Number format

Number format of values in the tooltip in printf syntax (example: %d, %5.2f).

Element property 'Control variables'

The control variables are assigned automatically when you click Insert elements for controlling Trace.

Reset Trigger

Variable (BOOL).

Standard control variable: bResetTrigger

TRUE: Resets the triggering. After the action is executed, the variable is set automatically to FALSE.

Start Trace

Variable (BOOL).

Standard control variable: bStart

TRUE: Starts the Trace. After the action is executed, the variable is set automatically to FALSE.

Stop Trace

Variable (BOOL).

Standard control variable: bStop

TRUE: Stops the Trace. After the action is executed, the variable is set automatically to FALSE.

Save Trace to a file

Save Trace

Variable (BOOL).

Standard control variable: bStore

TRUE: Saves the current trace configuration and the data that is stored in the development system to a file. When the action is ended, the variable is set automatically to FALSE.

File name

Variable (STRING) that contains the file name of the file to be saved.

Standard control variable: sStoreFilename

Load trace from file

Load Trace

Variable (BOOL).

Standard control variable: bRestore

TRUE: Reads the file specified below and loads its contents into the trace editor. The file contains a trace configuration and possibly also trace data. To do this, the stored trace configuration must match the application where the trace configuration is located. When the action is ended, the variable is set automatically to FALSE.

Note: A trace configuration can be loaded from a file only under special circumstances. The file must have been created with exactly the same (running) application with which it will then be loaded. The consequence of changing the running application (for example by downloading again) is that a file which was previously created from the application cannot no longer be read into the application. Even external manual changes to the file can cause this. You should edit only those configuration settings that have an effect on displaying the variables. If you change variable definitions directly in the file (for example by replacing variable x with v y), then the file cannot be loaded.

File name

Variable (STRING) that contains the file name of the file to be read.

Standard variable: sRestoreFilename

See also

Element property 'Center'

The properties contain fixed values for the coordinates of the point of rotation. This point of rotation is shown as the symbol. The point is used as the center for rotating and scaling.

X

X-coordinate of the point of rotation

Y

Y-coordinate of the point of rotation

Note

You can also change the values by dragging the symbols () to other positions in the editor.

Element property 'Absolute movement'

The properties contain IEC variables for controlling the position of the element dynamically. The reference point is the upper left corner of the element. In runtime mode, the entire element is moved.

Movement

X

Variable (numeric data type). Defines the X position (in pixels).

Example: PLC_PRG.iPos_X.

Increasing this value in runtime mode moves the element to the right.

Y

Variable (numeric data type). Defines the Y position (in pixels).

Example: PLC_PRG.iPos_Y.

Increasing this value in runtime mode moves the element downwards.

Rotation

Variable (numeric data type). Defines the angle of rotation (in degrees).

Example: PLC_PRG.iAngle1.

The midpoint of the element rotates at the Center point. This rotation point is shown as the symbol.

In runtime mode, the alignment of the element remains the same with respect to the coordinate system of the visualization. Increasing the value rotates the element to the right.

Interior rotation

Variable (numeric data type). Defines the angle of rotation (in degrees).

Example: PLC_PRG.iAngle2.

In runtime mode, the element rotates about the point of rotation specified in Center according to the value of the variable. In addition, the alignment of the element rotates according to the coordinate system of the visualization. Increasing the value in the code rotates clockwise.

The rotation point is shown as the symbol.

Note: If a static angle of rotation is specified in the Position ‣ Angle property, then the static angle of rotation is added to the variable angle of rotation (offset) when the visualization is executed.

Note

You can link the variables to a unit conversion.

Note

The X, Y, Rotation, and Interior rotation properties are supported by the "Client Animation" functionality.

See also

Element property 'State variables'

The variables control the element behavior dynamically.

Invisible

Variable (BOOL). Toggles the visibility of the element.

TRUE: The element is not visible at runtime.

Note

The Invisible property is supported by the "Client Animation" functionality.

See also

These properties are available only when you have selected the Preview: Support client animations and overlay of native elements option in the Visualization Manager.

Animation duration

Defines the duration (in milliseconds) in which the element runs an animation

  • Variable (integer value)

    Example: Menu.tContent with VAR tContent : INT := 500; END_VAR

  • Integer literal

    Example: 500

Animatable properties

  • Absolute movement, Movement, X, Y

  • Absolute movement, Rotation

  • Absolute movement, Interior rotation

  • Absolute movement, Exterior rotation

The animated movement is executed when at least one value of an animatable property has changed. The movement then executed is not jerky, but is smooth within the specified animation duration. The visualization element travels to the specified position while rotating dynamically. The transitions are smooth.

Move to foreground

Moves the visualization element to the foreground

Variable (BOOL)

Example: bIsInForeground with VAR bIsInForeground : BOOL := FALSE; END_VAR

TRUE: At runtime, the visualization element is displayed in the foreground.

FALSE: At runtime, the visualization element is displayed in the layer where it was inserted in the visualization editor.

See also

Element property 'Access rights'

Requirement: User management is set up for the visualization.

Access rights

Opens the Access rights dialog. There you can edit the access privileges for the element.

Status messages:

  • Not set. Full rights.: Access rights for all user groups : operable

  • Rights are set: Limited rights: Access is restricted for at least one group.

See also

3.5.16.0

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