- Editing -
The annunciator panel is a representation of a traditional alarm annunciator. It consists of a matrix of engraved alarm panes which light up and flash if an alarm condition is detected.
This tool allows bitmaps to be added into the selected drawing.
This tool allows actions to be applied to buttons, for example, sending values, running external programs and sending recipes.
This tool allows embedded charts to be added into the selected drawing.
see Stand-alone charts for more chart information.
The floating colour palette is a quick way to change foreground, background, line, text and drawing background colours. Since it floats over the drawing, it can be conveniently positioned close to where the drawing work is currently being done. The selected buttons colour, highlighted with a white border is a useful reminder of the colours previously selected for this object.
The logger is the interface mechanism between Data Manager and its data sources. This image shows the data logger interface menu control.
Data Manager Dynamics are a set of very powerful tools allowing the user to manual or automatically manipulate any drawn or inserted object. Dynamics may be added to any object to visually change its position, size, colour, fill, visibility or touch parameters etc. This allows a simple rectangle to become a bargraph, text to change colour or a button to run language etc.
The event log displays Data Manager messages to the user. They are also a way to see what has happen historically. Each message is proceeded by the time and date it occurred. The event log files are stored on a day to day basis and as such only the current days messages are displayed in the window. In addition, any displayed event log can be printed.
Select this to change the fill styles of the selected objects. If no objects are selected this menu item will change the editors default fill style. All objects drawn from this time on will have the new default fill style applied to them. There are eight choices of fill style ranging from solid through to crosshatch, plus mask and unfilled options. By default, the fill style is solid, no mask and filled.
Select this to change the font of the selected objects. If no objects are selected this menu item will change the editors default font. All objects drawn from this time on will have the new default font applied to them. The default font is Arial Regular 18pt.
This allows a number of selected objects to be grouped together. When a number of objects are grouped they can be manipulated as a single object. This means they can be moved or resized as one object. To make a group a minimum of two objects must be selected. The exception though is a single polyline or polygon. The exception exists so that an individual poly object can be resized as well as reshaped. Dynamics can be applied to groups just like to other objects. This is useful in making a number of objects for instance invisible without having to set visibility for them all individually. This window will stay displayed whilst you are editing object properties.
The floating layer control window allows objects to be placed on different layers. It also allows these layers to be controllable. This makes it easy to draw objects that utilize the same area of the screen. This window can be rolled-up or minimized when not required so as not to obstruct the drawing being edited.
Select this to change the line widths of the selected objects. If no objects are selected this menu item will change the editors default line width. All objects drawn from this time on will have the new default line width applied to them. There are nine choices of line width ranging from none through to 8. By default, the line width is 1.
Login
and Logout
In order to keep records and
prevent unauthorised users from tampering with Data Manager users are
required to log into the system before they can operate it. Each user
should therefore be assigned a login name and a secret password.
To login to the system, select Login from the main menu. When the Login dialog box appears, enter your login name and password and press the OK button or the enter key. If you are a recognised user and your password has been correctly entered, your login name and security level will appear in the operator section on the status bar (run mode only). Unrecognised user names or passwords will result in an error message box being displayed.
Users may change their name or password at any time by selecting Setup Users from the main menu.
To log out to the system, select Logout from the main menu. A message box will appear to ask if you are sure. If the answer is yes the user will be logged out and Data Manager will be placed in view only mode. This will last until a new user logs back in.
Menus
The menus are different in
configuration mode and in run mode. In addition, the menu that is
displayed is dependent on the level at which the user is logged in.
Generally, the higher the login level the more menu items that will
be available. The menu displayed is also dependent on the Lockout
control if enabled. The configuration mode menu is the main menu from
which all other menus are derived. Therefore, in run mode the menu is
the same except it does not have the drawing and editing tools available.
Object
Helper
The floating object helper window
gives instant access to information on the selected object. When an
object is selected the window restores itself to show the
information. When no object is selected the window is minimised.
Object
Properties
Select this item to call up the
selected objects property information. Only one object must be
selected to use this feature. This information can also be called up
by double-clicking the left mouse button on the desired object.
Select
Object Tool
This tool allows objects to be
selected for editing. Single objects can be selected by clicking the
left mouse button on them. Alternatively, a group of objects can be
selected by pressing and holding the left mouse button down while
dragging the mouse, which will display a dotted outlined box that
selects any objects that it touches. An object is said to be selected
when resizing handles appear around its border. This tool can also be
selected by clicking the right mouse button in the drawing window.
This tool also allows the selected object to be moved by holding the
left mouse button down while dragging the object to its new position.
It also allows the object to be resized by pointing to and selecting
any one of its resizing handles.
The
Status Bar
The status bar shows the
following information.
The x and y position of the mouse pointer.
This tool allows tag data to be added into the selected drawing.
The Tag list shows all the tags that are available to your current project. These tags are the ones you have already created in the tag editor of the logger.
This tool allows text to be added into the selected drawing. The text can also contain live data. This is done by using the @TAGNAME command.
The floating toolbox is a quick way to access all the drawing tools and editing features of Data Manager without having to keep going to the menu. Since it floats over the drawing, it can be conveniently positioned close to where the drawing work is currently being done.