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Visualization Element: Date/Time Picker

Symbol:

_visu_icon_date_and_time_picker.png

Category: Date/Time Controls

The element allows the visualization user to select a date (in a calendar) with a time.

Element properties

Are all element properties available?

All properties are available only after you select the Advanced option or the All categories filter in Properties.

Element name

Example: StartDateAndTime

Tip

Assign individual names for elements so that they are found faster in the element list.

Element Type

Date/Time Picker

Position

The position defines the location and size of the element in the visualization window. This is based on the Cartesian coordinate system. The origin is located in the upper left corner of the window. The positive horizontal X-axis runs to the right. The positive vertical Y-axis runs downwards.

X

The X-coordinate (in pixels) of the upper left corner of the element

Example: 10

Y

The Y-coordinate (in pixels) of the upper left corner of the element

Example: 10

Width

Specified in pixels

Example: 150

Height

Specified in pixels

Example: 30

Tip

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

Variable

Variable

Optional

  • Variable (DATE, DT, LDATE, LDT, LTIME, LTOD, TIME, TOD) for the date and time value

  • If no variable is configured, then the element automatically displays the system time. The value can be adjusted by the visualization user.

. The data type automatically determines the displayed value units:

  • DATE: Year, month, and day

  • DT: Year, month, day, hour, minute, and second

  • LTIME: Day, hour, minute, and second (by default, milliseconds, microseconds, and nanoseconds are not displayed)

  • TIME: Day, hour, minute, and second (by default, milliseconds are not displayed)

  • TOD: Hour, minute, and second (by default, milliseconds are not displayed)

Format string

Important

If the element should display the system time in universal time (UTC), then you need to make sure that the variable VisuElems.Visu_DateTime.DisplayUTC is set to TRUE in the application.

You can also adjust the display of the world time (UTC) with the format option Z.

Formats the display of the date and time value so that, for example, the display can be limited to a time unit

Options for specifying the format string

  • As a fixed string

    Example: yyyy-dd-MM

  • As a reference to a text list entry <text list name>.<ID>

    A format string is defined there for each language.

_visu_elem_prop_formatstring_ref_to_tlentry.png

Examples

  • LTIME variable with format string HH:mm:ss.ms.us.ns –> Display: 08:15:12.780.150.360

  • LTIME variable with restricting format string HH:mm –> Display: 08:15

  • DATE variable with format string yyyy/MM/dd –> Display: 2015/12/17

  • If no value is specified in Variable and the variable VisuElems.Visu_DateTime.DisplayUTC = TRUE is set controlled by the program and the format string contains the Z identifier (dd:MM:yyyy HH:mm:ss:ms:Z), then this results in the output of universal time (01.08.2021 10:12:03:450:Z).

  • If no value is specified in Variable and the variable VisuElems.Visu_DateTime.DisplayUTC = FALSE is set controlled by the program and the format string contains the Z identifier (dd:MM:yyyy HH:mm:ss:ms:Z), then this results in the output of the local time with an offset to the universal time (01.08.2021 10:12:03:450:+02:00 )

  • DateTime.DTPicker (text list entry)

    For each language in the application, the text list entry refers to a format string.

Note

Basically, all %t format options are supported which are described in the "Placeholders with Format Definition" chapter.

Tip

You can programmatically switch the local time zone of the system time to universal time (UTC).

When the variable VisuElems.Visu_DateTime.DisplayUTC is set to TRUE, the system time is displayed as universal time (UTC). By default, the variable VisuElems.Visu_DateTime.DisplayUTC is set to FALSE so that the system time is displayed in the local time zone.

For the display of date and time values, you can extend the respective format string with the time zone code Z. For an output in local system time, the offset is then displayed in universal time (UTC). For example, dd:MM:yyyy HH:mm:ss:ms:Z outputs 01.08.2021 12:00:00:001:+02:00. When universal time (UTC) is displayed, the UTC code is also displayed. 01.08.2021 10:00:00:001:Z

Design Date/Time Picker

  • From style: All settings are preconfigured according to the style.

  • Explicit: The Design settings property is available. You can customize the calendar here.

Design Date Picker

  • From style: All settings are preconfigured according to the style.

  • Explicit: The Design settings property is available. You can customize the calendar here.

Positioning Date Picker

  • Dynamic: The calendar is adapted and positioned automatically.

  • Manual: The Position settings property is available. You can customize the calendar here.

State variables

The variables control the element behavior dynamically.

Invisible

Variable (BOOL) for toggling the visibility of the element

TRUE: The element is not visible at runtime.

Example: bIsVisible with VAR bIsVisible : BOOL := FALSE; END_VAR

Deactivate inputs

Variable (BOOL) for toggling the operability of the element

TRUE: User inputs do not have any effect in runtime more. The element is shown as deactivated.

Tip

The Invisible property is supported by the "Client Animation" functionality.

Center

The properties contain fixed values for the coordinates of the point of rotation. The rotation point is displayed in the editor as the _visu_icon_center_point.png symbol and is used as the center for rotation and scaling.

Tip

You can also change the values by dragging the _visu_icon_center_point.png symbol to another position in the editor.

X

X-coordinate of the point of rotation

Y

Y-coordinate of the point of rotation

Absolute movement

The properties contain IEC variables for controlling the position of the element dynamically. The reference point is the upper left corner of the element. At runtime, the entire element is moved.

Movement

X

Increasing this value at runtime moves the element to the right.

Y

Increasing this value at runtime moves the element downwards.

Rotation

Variable (numeric data type) for the angle of rotation (in degrees)

Example: PLC_PRG.iAngle1.

The midpoint of the element rotates at the Center point. This rotation point is shown as the _visu_icon_center_point.png symbol.

At runtime, the alignment of the element remains the same with respect to the coordinate system of the visualization. Increasing the value rotates the element to the right.

_visu_img_prp_rotation.png

Scaling

Variable (integer data type) to trigger a centric stretching

Example: PLC_PRG.iScaling

The reference point is the Center property.

The value 1 shrinks the element by a factor of 0.001. The value 1000 returns the element to its original size.

Interior rotation

Variable (numeric data type) for the angle of rotation (in degrees)

Example: PLC_PRG.iAngle2.

At runtime, the element rotates about the point of rotation specified in Center according to the value of the variable. In addition, the alignment of the element rotates according to the coordinate system of the visualization. Increasing the value in the code rotates clockwise.

The rotation point is shown as the _visu_icon_center_point.png symbol.

Note

If a static angle of rotation is specified in the Position → Angle property, then the static angle of rotation is added to the variable angle of rotation (offset) when the visualization is executed.

_visu_img_prp_inner_rotation.png

Tip

You can combine the variables to a Unit conversion.

Tip

The X, Y, Rotation, and Interior rotation properties are supported by the "Client Animation" functionality.

Animation

Tip

These properties are available only when you have selected the Support client animations and overlay of native elements option in the Visualization Manager.

Animation duration

Variable for the duration (in milliseconds) in which the element runs an animation

  • Variable (integer value)

    Example: Menu.tContent with VAR tContent : INT := 500; END_VAR

  • Integer literal

    Example: 500

. Animatable properties

  • Absolute movement, Movement, X, Y

  • Absolute movement, Rotation

  • Absolute movement, Interior rotation

  • Absolute movement, Exterior rotation

The animated movement is executed when at least one value of an animatable property has changed. The movement then executed is not jerky, but is smooth within the specified animation duration. The visualization element travels to the specified position while rotating dynamically. The transitions are smooth.

Move to foreground

Variable (BOOL) for setting the element in the foreground

TRUE: At runtime, the visualization element is displayed in the foreground.

FALSE: At runtime, the visualization element is displayed in the layer where it was inserted in the visualization editor.

Example: bIsInForeground with VAR bIsInForeground : BOOL := FALSE; END_VAR

Input Configuration

Tip

The Configure button opens the Input Configuration dialog. There you can assign follow-up actions to the event.

OnValueChanged

Event which triggers follow-up actions due to a change in value

Which follow-up actions are triggered is configured in the Input Configuration dialog.

The defined follow-up actions and the corresponding configuration are displayed below the element property.

The OnValueChanged event can be disabled by the VISU_NO_VALUECHANGED compiler define in the properties dialog of the application.

Access Rights

Note

Available only when a user management is set up for visualization.

Access Rights button

Opens the Access Rights dialog. There you can edit the access privileges for the element.

. Status messages:

  • Not set. Full rights.: Access rights for all user groups : operable

  • Rights are set: Limited rights: Access is restricted for at least one group.

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