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<h1 style="text-align: center;">Draw<br>(Displays and Symbols)</h1>
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Introduction to Drawing User Interfaces
The Drawing Features provide the procedures
Introduction to the Drawing tools
n this chapter, we will focus on the tools and techniques to create and customize displays and symbols in Tatsoft FactoryStudio. We will explore the drawing tools and features available to design interactive and visually appealing user interfaces.Additionally, we will delve into dynamic behavior on screen elements, symbols, user control components, and display code-behind programming.
It includes powerful vector drawing tools for process diagrams and the creation of custom objects and symbols. It also allows dynamic behavior for:
- On-screen elements with various dynamic options
- Smart Symbols
- User Control Components
- Display Code-Behind Programming
You can access the Drawing environment using the navigation path Displays → Draw or the Draw shortcut icon on top of the Solution Explorer.
On this page:
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Key Concepts and Terms
Graphical Element
When drawing displays, any object placed on the screen is defined as a Graphical Element. It can be simple objects like a rectangle, or controls like a CheckBox or TrendChart.
Dynamics
In the context of the Drawing tool, Dynamics are real-time behaviors you can use on a Graphical Element. For instance, you can add the Dynamic of Color Change to Rectangle and define the real-time Tag that will drive the color change.
Smart Symbols
Smart Symbols — or Symbols for short — is a platform feature that combines graphical Elements with Dynamics properties and connection to the real-time Tags and templates.
The Symbols vastly expedite the creation of Operator Users Interfaces, and simplify the maintenance, as changes on the Symbols propagate automatically to the Displays using it.
Components and User Controls
In context of the drawing tools... <add definition >>
Image Resources
Image files imported to the Project. The Image Resources can be applied as background color, or even as a Dynamic color change, to any Graphical Element.
Understading the Drawing Area
In this section will present:
Overview of the drawing area in Tatsoft FactoryStudio
Accessing the drawing tools and customizing the environment
Features Highlights and Capabilities
Drawing Area Workspace
When clicking the Draw button in the ProjectDesigner, the toolbars are changed to present the Drawing Tools. You can also reach this environment from Displays > List, by a double click on a display row, or using the Open Outde icon M=<Image> on the main toolbar.
This is the overview of the workspace.
For further information refer the the child page <<< Toolbars and Properties >>
<<< Toolbars and Properties >>: Describes toolbar and properties dialogs in further details.
Code Behind workspace
<<Explanation of The CODE BEHIND TAB AND IMAGE and link to the chapter
Features Highlights
Some features available in the Drawing tool include:
- Cross-Platform: Use the advanced WPF drawing features to create HTML5 pages.
- Symbols are fully customizable and new symbols can be created from the green field.
- The concept of open Dynamic properties brings the flexibility to deliver any UNI requirement.
- Advanced components for Trending, Alarms, DataGrids, Gantt, Maps, BarCharts and many others.
- Third-party components can be easily integrated, and new built-in components are frequently created.
<<<<.please review the content of this paragraph>>>> - Image files can be imported into the Project as Resources, so you do not need to keep the image file anymore.
- The Image Resources can be applied as a painting Brush to any element.
- Import XAML and AUTOCAD drawings into the system as a vector object.
- Many Productivity tools, like Copy-Paste dynamic properties, edit multiple objects, search replace tags.
- Select the objects in the display, or use the ObjectTree View.
- Flexible Grid Snapping and zoom settings.
Working with Graphical Elements
This section will covers:
Understanding the concept of graphical elements
Creating and editing basic shapes, text, images, and controls
Configuring element properties and behavior
Adding Dynamics to Screen Elements
- Introduction to real-time behaviors (dynamics) for screen elements
- Configuring dynamic properties, such as color changes and visibility
- Binding screen elements to real-time tags and templates
Symbols, Images, and Repositories
- Understanding the concept of smart symbols
- Exploring images, Symbol Factory library, and Local Symbols Gallery
- Using built-in symbols and components.
- Pasting Tags directly to Displays and clipboard operations.
- Creating and managing custom symbols and components
- Importing and exporting symbols and components
Graphical elements are the components used in the interface, such as shapes, checkboxes or trend charts.
Dynamics and Animations
Dynamics and animations are real-time changes that can be applied to graphical elements to communicate different messages. For example, a rectangle's color can be changed dynamically based on the value of a real-time tag.
Image Resources
Image resources are imported image files that can be used in your solution as graphical elements.
Industrial Icons
Industrial icons are a pre-built set of icons designed specifically for use in industrial automation applications.
Smart Symbols
Smart symbols are graphical elements that combine visual representation with dynamic properties and connections to real-time tags and templates.
Components and User Controls
Components and user controls refer to the customizable objects and elements used to create interactive displays. These objects can range from pre-built controls, like alarm windows and trend charts, to custom-designed components tailored to your specific application requirements.
.NET CodeBehind
.NET CodeBehind is a programming feature that allows you to write custom code in VB.NET or C# for your solution. This code can be used to define event handling methods, perform calculations, or manage application behavior based on user input or real-time data.
Drawing Tool Workspace
Expand or Collapse the Solution Explorer
The Left side panels allows the selection of graphical elements to add the display
The Toolbars are detailed on page Toolbars and Panels.
The Right side accommodates two panels:
- Tree to Allow DragDrop tags to displays. See Graphical Components.
- Drawing Properties, which shows the attributes for the selected element and for the current display.
In order to inspire the properties one element on the displays, execute a double click with mouse on the element.
Navigation
- Select other pages using the top ComboBox
- Use the top-right side short-cuts to other Displays Module tools
- Use the icons on the left side to go back to other modules (by default, last section used of the module) or expand the Solution Explorer
Drawing Displays
Using Graphical Basic Elements
Users can draw graphical basic elements such as shapes, lines, text, and images using the drawing tools provided in the Drawing Workspace toolbar.
→ Read more about Toolbars and Panels.
Using Components or Controls
Users can add components for advanced functionally, such as DataGrid, AssetTreeView, TrendChart, Gauges, PdfViewer, and various others.
→ Read more about Graphical Components
Using Smart Symbols
Users can use the extensive Symbol Library, or create new Symbols based on the Library, or with the drawing primitives and adding the dynamic behavior directly.
→ Read more about Smart Symbols.
Adding Tags to Displays
The software platform allows users to easily paste tags onto their displays, automatically generating appropriate symbols and data bindings.
→ Read more about Insert Tags To Displays.
Customize Dynamic Behavior
The software platform enables users to add dynamic behavior to graphical elements by configuring animations, data bindings, and user interactions.
- Dynamics is the real-time behaviors that can be added to any graphical element in a display
- Dynamics allows to change element properties, such as color changes and visibility, in real-time based on Tags values.
→ Read more about Dynamics and UI Elements.
Code-Behind Programming
- Code-behind programming allows users to add custom functionality and behaviors to their displays using .NET, C#, and JavaScript code. This feature enables users to create complex interactions, validate user input, and implement advanced automation logic within their solutions.
→ Read more about Display CodeBehind.
Working with Displays
Testing the Display
In the Draw environment, there is a Preview button on the toolbar, which allows for basic verification of the display without having to exit the application or run the displays. This preview will not execute the CodeBehind, and some more complex components, such as TrendCharts, will not utilize all their functionality.
Another way to test the display is to keep the solution running, preferably using the Development profile, and simply save the display. You can then use the Rich Client or refresh the Web Client to see the running results. When using this approach, make sure you're running with online configuration enabled.
Execution and Online Changes
The software supports real-time execution and online changes, enabling you to make adjustments to your application while it is running. This feature facilitates rapid development and allows you to quickly respond to changing requirements or system conditions. With online changes, you can modify displays, adjust tag values, and update component properties without stopping the solution execution. This minimizes downtime and ensures that your application remains responsive to user needs. That configuration is done at Runtime → Start.
Enabling Built-In Tooltips
The software includes built-in tooltip functionality when running in WPF, which when enabled will show automatically in Runtime information about the object where the mouse is over. The automated tooltip is enabled with the property.
@Client.TooltipOptions
Typically you can setup that property on the Displays CodeBehind, or ScriptTask-ClientStartup, or change it manually with the PropertyWatch tool.
The values for that property are:
Value | Description |
|---|---|
0 | No message |
1 | Show the Tag name, if any, connected with that graphical element |
2 | Show the TagName and Value |
3 | Show TagName, Value and Description |
4 | Show TagName, Value, Description and DevicePoint mapping |
In this section:
User Controls and External Components
Introduction to dynamic objects, smart symbols, and UI controls
Utilizing platform UI controls, Windows UI controls, and extensible components
Integrating external components in FactoryStudio displays
Preparing the Application Navigation
Understanding the concept of application navigation
Organizing the navigation of pages for users
Display Modes: Pages, Dialogs, and Popups
Responsive Design and Dashboard Layouts
Implementing responsive design principles
Working with grid layouts to create adaptable and flexible user interfaces
Code-Behind Programming
Overview of display code-behind programming
Writing code in VB.Net or CSharp and automatic language conversion
Defining event handling methods for mouse and input commands
Utilizing pre-defined methods for handling display opening, closing, and dialog actions
Troubleshooting and Best Practices
List of Keyboard shortcuts
Design guidelines and recommendations for creating effective and user-friendly displays and symbols
Optimizing performance and resource usage in complex screensBest Practices and Recommendations
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