Programmable Logic Controllers
Pico Controllers
Message Text Screen Display Element for Pico GFX
These screen display elements can display changing texts that change according to the status of particular variables. A message text is therefore used for indicating status changes in the process. In order to visually display changes of this kind, you can link message texts with a variable (associated variable). A text can be up to 16 characters in length.
Function
You create the message text to be displayed in a Parameter table, assign a status value to it and then associate it with a variable.
A message text is displayed if the associated variable has taken on the appropriate value.
Example: You have selected marker word MW1 as the associated variable and entered the text "Stop Motor 2” in connection with the status value 200. If MW1 takes on value 200 (dec.) during operation, the device will display the text "Stop motor 2”.
The default text is output if the variable assumes a value that is not assigned to a text.
The display element must also be made visible and must not be overlaid by another screen element.
The text is displayed in the language you have defined as the download language.
During operation the visualization device can only show texts in one of the defined languages, the Download language.
Scaling Display Elements
Requirement: You have already selected the screen element to be edited in the current screen.
- Position the screen element as required. Arrange it as far left as possible as it may cover the entire display width.
- Select the required double font size by using the vertical zoom function.
- Drag the screen element to the required length for the text by horizontal zooming.
With Message text elements you can adjust the text to two font sizes.
| Possible font sizes | Max. number of lines/characters |
|---|---|
| Normal | 4/16 |
| Double | 2/8 |
Editing Display Elements and Defining Parameters
Associated Variable Tab
- First define the type of associated variable, depending on the application concerned.
- Now select the actual operand.
Variable type area
This enables you to select one of the four different variable types (Bit, Byte, Word and Dword) with their corresponding association options.
The type of variable used determines the number of possible status values the variable can have. The variable type also determines how many different message texts can be output via the screen element.
| Variable type | Association possible via | Number of different message texts for one language | Value range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bit | Boolean operands and Local function block Inputs and outputs | 2 | 0/1 |
| Byte | Local markers MB1...MB96, Remote markers *1MB1...1MB80 | 255 | 0...255 |
| Word | Local markers MW1...MW96, Remote markers *1MW1...1MW40, Analog inputs/outputs (Local and remote) |
255 | 0...65535 |
| DWord | Local markers MD1...MD96, Remote markers *1MD1...1MD20, Local function block Inputs and outputs |
255 | 2147483648...+2147483647 |
Table: Associated variables for message texts
Each message text can also be entered in all language versions that you have defined in the Screen Overview. In theory, this can be 254 additional languages.
Bit logic area
If you use the bit variable, you can also invert the status value assigned to a message text using the make contact or break contact bit logic.
Message texts tab
In the Message text column of the Parameter table, edit your message text. You can already create additional foreign language texts here.
You have already defined the available Languages in the Screen overview. You have assigned one of the suitable fonts, Western European, Central Europe or Cyrillic, to the corresponding languages.
Alternatively, you can export your text edited in one language for translation and import it later as one (or several) foreign language(s).
Message text parameter table
The Properties field window shows a parameter table with the editable columns Status value and Message text. The variable type you have selected is displayed in addition to the status value. A Language selection list box is also shown as well as an entry field for the Default text.
- Ensure that the language selected is suitable for the text you have planned.
- In the Status value column enter the decimal value at which the associated message text should be shown in the display.
- In the Message text column, edit your message text in the language version set.
| Status value | Message text | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | Stop Motor 1 | |
| 2 | 0 | 200 | Stop Motor 2 |
| 3 |
Message text parameter table
Note: The text in the entry field can be copied, cut and pasted via the Clipboard if required.
- If necessary, enter a default text if the variable can take on undefined values.
- If necessary edit the corresponding foreign language text for every variable value. You must have selected the required language beforehand in the Language Selection list box.
Language selection:
This is where you specify to which language defined the message text entered is to be assigned.
You have already defined the available Languages in the Screen overview.
Note: A message text you have entered is automatically assigned to the language selected in the Language selection box.
If you only wish to work the standard language and do not define an additional language, the selection box will always show "Untitled".
Creating language-dependent texts
Requirement: You have defined the language in the Screen Overview in addition to "Untitled”, for example "Dutch”, as an additional language for text output. This definition is made in the parameter table for the Languages tab.
- Drag a Message text screen element and drop it in the screen.
- In the Language selection list box select "Dutch”.
- In the Status value column enter the decimal value at which the associated message text should be shown in the display.
- In the Message text column edit your message text for the language version "Dutch”.
In the parameter table for the Languages tab you should also have selected the language “Dutch” as the download language. This language version will then be downloaded to the visualization device on the next program download.
Note: You can use the Export function to transfer the Message Text elements used in the screen to an Excel table, send this on for translation, and then use the Import function to include the new texts in your project.
Default text:
A message text that is always output when the variable assumes a value for which there is no assigned text. Blanks will be displayed if this field is left empty.
Example:
You have selected marker word MW1 as the associated variable and eight different message texts, associated with the decimal status values 1 to 8. You have entered “Placeholder” as the default text.
The variable MW1 assumes the value 255 during operation. In this case the text Placeholder is output.
Visibility Tab
The screen element can be made visible/invisible in the display during operation by means of a Boolean variable.
Display change tab
Display list box
- Select here whether the message text is displayed flashing or inverse
Associate via list box
The display changes if the associated variable is true. If an associated variable is not entered, the message text will be displayed in the normal format.
- Select a Boolean operand or a function block input/output that controls the display change.
Bit logic area
The status value of the Boolean operand that you specify for a display change can be inverted using the Make contact or Break contact bit logic.
Exceptions in the table display
The valid range of values of an associated variable naturally depends on the type of variable involved. The programming software checks your entry in the Status value column and prevents entries that do not conform to the type of associated variable selected. For example, you cannot enter a status value > 255 if you have selected Byte as the associated variable type.
Of course, if you initially selected Word, for example, and stored a message text for the status values 100, 200, 300 and 400, the programming software can only output a warning if you later change the type to Byte.
In this case, the programming software will leave all lines with undisplayable message texts in the table, and cover those with invalid status values (in this case 300 and 400) in grey to indicate that they are not available. The grey overlay disappears when you return to the word type. You won't have to carry out any more extensive editing work.