Visualization Element ‘Meter’

Symbol:

Tag: Measurement controls

This element displays the value of a variable. The needle is positioned according to the value of the assigned variables. A pointer instrument is used for displaying a tachometer, for example.

Element properties

Element name	Example: GenElemInst_1
Element type	meter
Value	Variable (numeric data type). The variable value determines the pointer deflection of the element.

Element property ‘Position’

The position defines the location and size of the element in the visualization window. These are 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	X coordinate of the upper left corner of the element Specified in pixels. Example: 10.
Y	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

Note

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

See also

• Positioning Elements, Adapting Size and Layer

Element property ‘Background’

Background color	Drop-down list with background colors
Own image	image: Image ID of the background image. You select the background image from an image pool by clicking the symbol. Info: If you specify the <default> value or select the image from the Default category in the input assistant, then the original element background image is used. Transparent color: Selection from drop-down list or input assistant.
Optimized drawing	: The background image is drawn one time. If there is a change in the foreground, then only the affected part of the image is redrawn. : The background image is redrawn in cycles. Note: Deactivating this option is sensible only in certain exceptional cases.

Element property ‘Arrow’

Hand style	Drop-down list with different arrow types
Color	: The Color dialog box opens. : Drop-down list with color names
Arrow start	Angle (in degrees) between the scale start and the horizontal axis
Arrow end	Angle (in degrees) between the right edge of the pointer instrument and the horizontal axis
Additional arrow	: An additional arrow is shown inside the scale.

Element property ‘Scale’

Subscale position	Outside: The subscale is displayed on the outer scale ring (Frame outside). Inside: The subscale is displayed on the inner scale ring (Frame inside).
Scale type	Type of scale Lines Dots Squares
Scale start	Least value of the scale and the lower limit of the value range for the element. Example: 0
Scale end	Greatest value of the scale and the upper limit of the value range for the element. Example: 100
Main scale	Distance between two values on the rough scale. Example: 10.
Subscale	Distance between two values on the fine scale. Example: 2 You can hide the fine scale by setting the value to 0.
Scale line width	Specified in pixels. Example: 3
Scale color	Color of scale lines : The Color dialog box opens. : A drop-down list with style colors opens.
Scale in 3D	: Tick marks are displayed with slight 3D shadowing. Note: This property is not displayed in FlatStyle.
Show scale	: The scale is displayed.
Frame inside	: A frame is drawn at the inner end of the scale.
Frame outside	: A frame is drawn at the outer end of the scale.

Element property ‘Label’

Label	Selection list Outside: Scale values are placed outside of the scale. Inside: Scale values are placed inside of the scale.
Unit	Text that is displayed in the element. Example: Units displayed in m/s.
Font	Font for labels (example: scale numbering). Selection from the drop-down list or by clicking the button.
Scale format (C Syntax)	Values scaled in “printf” syntax Examples: %d, %5.2f
Max. text width of labels	(optional) Value that redefines the maximum width of the scale label. The correct value is normally set automatically. Note: Change this value only if the automatic adjustment does not yield the expected result.
Text height of labels	(optional) Value that redefines the maximum height of the scale label. The correct value is normally set automatically. Note: Change this value only if the automatic adjustment does not yield the expected result.
Font color	Selection from the drop-down list or by clicking the button.

Element property ‘Positioning’

Usage of	Preset style values: Values from the current style User-defined settings: The subnode Positioning appears.
Positioning Requirement: User-defined settings is selected as Usage of. The displayed positioning settings depend on the type of needle instrument and potentiometer, and partially on whether a custom background image is selected. The following settings are used for achieving the exact position relative to the background image.
Needle movement	Length of the needle (in pixels)
Scale movement	Distance from the tick marks to the center (in pixels) Requirement: A customer image is selected as Background.
Scale length	Length of the tick marks (in pixels) Requirement: A customer image is selected as Background.
Label offset:	Distance from the labels to the tick marks (in pixels)
Unit offset:	Distance of the unit text Label ‣ Unit from the upper scale edge (in pixels)
Origin offset	Offset of the element (in pixels) Requirement: For the elements Meter 180° and Meter 90°, this property is displayed only if a custom image is selected as Background.

Element property ‘Colors’

Color areas
Durable color areas	: All color areas are visible, regardless of the current value. : Only the color area is visible that includes the current value.
Use colors for scale	: Colors in the color area are used only for the scale and frame.
Color areas
Create new	A new color area is added to the Elements view.
Delete	The color area is removed from the list and the list is refreshed.
Begin of area	Start value of the color area
End of area	End value of the color area
Color	Color that is used for displaying the area.

Element property ‘Access rights’

Requirement: User management is set up for the visualization.

Access rights

Opens the Access rights dialog box for changing the access rights for the element. Status messages: Not set. All rights.: Access rights for all user groups : operable Rights are assigned: limited rights: Access is restricted for at least one group.

See also

• Dialog Box ‘Access rights’