Lenze PLC Designer PLC Designer (R2-x) - Manual (Page 681)

L-force | PLC Designer
PLC Designer Visualization

DMS 3.2 EN 02/2011 TD29 679
20 PLC Designer Visualization
20.1 Visualization - Overview
A visualization is a graphical representation of the project variables which allows
inputs to the PLC program in online mode via mouse and keypad. The PLC Designer
visualization editor, which is part of the programming system provides graphic
elements which can be arranged as desired and can be connected with project
variables. Thereupon in online mode the look of the graphical elements will change
depending on the variables values.
Simple example: In order to represent a fill level, which is calculated by the PLC
program, draw a bar and connect it to the corresponding project variable, so that the
length and color of the bar will show the current fill level value. Add a text field which
will display the current value in a text string and a button for starting and stopping
the program.
The properties of a single visualization element as well as of the whole visualization
object will be defined in appropriate configuration dialogs and in the Object
Properties dialog. There it is possible to set basic parameters by activating options as
well as to define a dynamic parameterizing by entering project variables.
Additional special possibilities for configuring are given by the programmability of
element properties via structure variables.
Using placeholders in the configuration dialogs may save a lot of effort in case you
want to use the same visualization object several times with different configurations.
The visualization which is created in the programming system will in many cases be
used as the only user interface available for controlling and watching the associated
PLC program in online mode. For this purpose it must be possible to give inputs to the
program solely by activating visualization elements. To reach this you can use special
input possibilities during the configuration of the visualization and you have the
option to define special hotkeys for each particular visualization.