Micromod Micro-PWC: 53PW6000 MicroPWC Configuration Guide - Manual (Page 97)

Micro-PWC CONFIGURATION GUIDE
Grafx Editor 77
4.0 The Grafx Editor
4.1 OVERVIEW
Process graphic displays provide the user with both a graphical interface to the process, and a convenient,
efficient way to access process data and perform control operations. On the Micro-PWC, up to 10,000
graphic displays can be configured, which are distributed automatically to the other Micro-PWCs in the
same console group. Using the Console Group Synchronization utility, graphics can also be distributed to
Micro-PWCs in other console groups as well.
Graphic displays, including animated process graphics, can be configured using the Grafx editor, an
object-oriented graphic modeling system. The Grafx editor is used for interactive creation of static back-
ground, dynamic display points, control points and display vectoring.
Graphics are configured in a two-step process: first, static objects such as circles, lines, rectangles and
text strings are placed on the display, creating a model. The objects used to create the model are some-
times referred to as the parts of the model. Various dynamic attributes, such as visibility, fill color, and edge
color, can then be assigned to any object (or combination of objects) on the graphic. These dynamic
attributes can be linked to atoms configured in the Micro-DCI Global database. A change in the status of
an atom can then trigger a visible change in the graphical object.
A model can be saved as either a graphic or a submodel; submodels can be used and re-used as objects
within other models.
Both the placement of graphic objects and assignment of dynamic attributes are accomplished using the
Grafx editor. This application maintains visual and functional consistency with other Windows-based appli-
cations currently available. The Windows user will find that many familiar commands and shortcuts are
available with the Grafx editor.
4.1.1 Accessing the Grafx Editor
The Grafx editor is accessed by using the pull-down menus available from the System Window Menu but-
ton. Position the pointer on the Menu button, and select the following sequence of items:
Menu > Configure > Graphic > Grafx Editor. The Grafx editor (
Figure 4-1 ) will be displayed.
Only one Grafx editor session can be opened per Micro-DCI workstation.
If the Grafx editor is not visible, it may be necessary to lower (or close) Operator Windows in order to
locate it, or click on the related button on the task bar.
4.1.2 Exiting the Grafx Editor
To exit the Grafx Editor, select File > Exit from the Grafx editor menu bar. If no changes have been made to
the current model, the display will be exited immediately. If changes have been made, a small pop-up win-
dow queries:
Save changes to Graphic <graphic name>?
or
Save changes to Submodel <submodel name>?
✎ Note
You can also open the Grafx editor using its entry in the Micro-PWC
program group. When started in this manner, more than one Grafx
editor session can be opened per Micro-DCI workstation.