Visualization Element: Potentiometer
Symbol:

Category: Measurement Controls
The element displays the value of a variable as a setting on the potentiometer. A visualization user can modify the value by dragging the pointer to another position.
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: TipAssign individual names for elements so that they are found faster in the element list. |
Element Type | Potentiometer |
Variable | Variable (numeric data type) for the position of the needle of the potentiometer The visualization user can modify the value by dragging the pointer to another position. |
Center
The properties contain fixed values for the coordinates of the point of rotation. The rotation point is displayed in the editor as the TipYou can also change the values by dragging the | |
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: The midpoint of the element rotates at the Center point. This rotation point is shown as the 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. | ![]() |
Scaling | Variable (integer data type) to trigger a centric stretching Example: The reference point is the Center property. The value | |
Interior rotation | Variable (numeric data type) for the angle of rotation (in degrees) Example: 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 NoteIf a static angle of rotation is specified in the property, then the static angle of rotation is added to the variable angle of rotation (offset) when the visualization is executed. | ![]() |
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
. Animatable properties
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 (
Example: |
Input Configuration
The properties contain the configurations for the user input when using the mouse or keyboard. A user input defines an event and one or more actions that are executed when an event occurs.
TipThe Configure button opens the Input Configuration dialog. There you can create or edit user inputs. Configured user inputs are listed below the events. They each include the action that is triggered and the setting in short form. Example: Execute ST Code: | |
OnDialogClosed | Input event: The user closes the dialog. |
OnMouseClick | Input event: The user clicks the mouse button completely in the element area. The mouse button is clicked and released. |
OnMouseDown | Input event: The user clicks down on the mouse button. |
OnMouseEnter | Input event: The user drags the mouse pointer to the element. |
OnMouseLeave | Input event: The user drags the mouse pointer away from the element. |
OnMouseMove | Input event: The user moves the mouse pointer over the element area. |
OnMouseUp | . Input events:
NoteThis CODESYS-specific triggering behavior guarantees that actions for key elements are completed. A key element starts an action for OnMouseDown and ends the action for OnMouseUp. Example: A visualization user presses the mouse button within the element area of the key element and then moves the cursor position so that it is located outside of the element area. The action is ended anyway because OnMouseUp is triggered. |
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. |
Tap | When a mouse click event occurs, the variable defined in Variable is described in the application. The coding depends on the Tap FALSE and Tap on enter if captured options. |
Variable | Requirement: The Tap FALSE option is not activated. Variable (
Example: |
Tap FALSE |
|
Tap on enter if captured |
The value is |
Switch over | With the onset of a mouse click event, the variable is set; when the mouse click event is completed, the variable is reset. |
Variable | Variable ( This is when the user releases the mouse button while the mouse pointer is over the element area. If the user releases the mouse button while the mouse pointer is outside of the element area, then the mouse click event is not ended and the value is not toggled. TipThe user can cancel a started toggle input by dragging the mouse pointer out of the element area. |
Toggle on up if captured |
|
Hotkey | Shortcut on the element for triggering specific input actions When the hotkey event occurs, the input actions in the Events property are triggered. In this way, it is not the input action itself that leads to this input action, but the mouse input action. |
Key | Key pressed for input action. Example: T The following properties appear when a key is selected. |
Events |
|
Switch over |
Example: Shift+T. |
Control |
Example: Ctrl+T. |
Alt |
Example: Alt+T. |
Tip
All keyboard shortcuts and their actions that are configured in the visualization are listed on the Keyboard Configuration tab.
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: |
Y | The Y-coordinate (in pixels) of the upper left corner of the element Example: |
Width | Specified in pixels Example: |
Height | Specified in pixels Example: |
Tip
You can change the values by dragging the box symbols to other positions in the editor.
Background
Image color | List box containing background colors |
Own image |
|
Pointer
Arrow type | List box with different arrow types |
Color |
|
Arrow start | Angle (in degrees) between the left edge of the element and the horizontal axis |
Arrow end | Angle (in degrees) between the right edge of the element and the horizontal axis |
Scale
Sub scale position |
|
Scale type | Possible scale types:
|
Scale start | Least value of the scale and the lower limit of the value range for the element Example: TipIn the value field, click the |
Variable | Variable (integer data type) for the start value of the scale Example: |
Scale end | Greatest value of the scale and the upper limit of the value range for the element Example: 100 TipIn the value field, click the |
Variable | Variable (integer data type) for the scale end Example: |
Main scale | Distance between two values on the main scale Example: TipIn the value field, click the |
Variable | Variable (integer data type) Contains the distance. Example: |
Sub scale | Distance between two values on the fine scale Example: TipYou can hide the fine scale by setting the value to TipIn the value field, click the |
Variable | Variable (integer data type) for the spacing between two values on the fine scale Example: |
Scale line width | In pixels Example: 3 |
Scale color | Color of the tick marks
|
Scale in 3D |
NoteThis property is not displayed in FlatStyle style. |
Show scale |
|
Frame inside |
|
Frame outside |
|
Note
A valid declaration in the application code is required for the variables used as an example in the table above.
Label
Label |
|
Unit | Text which is displayed in the element Example: Display of unit in m/s |
Font | Font for labels (example: scale numbering). Selection from the list box or by clicking the |
Scale format (C syntax) | Values scaled in Examples: |
Max. text width of labels | Optional value that defines the maximum width of the scale label The value is set automatically. TipChange this value only if the automatic adjustment does not yield the expected result. |
Text height of labels | Optional value that defines the maximum height of the scale label The value is set automatically. TipChange this value only if the automatic adjustment does not yield the expected result. |
Font color | Selection from the list box or by clicking the |
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 | Requirement: A customer image is selected as Background. Distance from the tick marks to the center (in pixels) |
Scale length | Requirement: A customer image is selected as Background. Length of the tick marks (in pixels) |
Label offset: | Distance from the labels to the tick marks (in pixels) |
Unit offset: | Distance of the unit text from the upper scale edge (in pixels) |
Origin offset | Requirement: For the elements Meter 180° and Meter 90°, this property is displayed only if a custom image is selected as Background. Offset of the element (in pixels) |
Colors
Color areas | |
Durable color areas |
|
Use colors for scale |
|
Color areas | |
Create new | Adds a new color range in the Elements view |
Delete | Removes from the list the color range and refreshes the list |
Begin of area | Start value of the color area Example: 20 TipThe Variable property is displayed below the |
Variable | Variable (integer data type) for the start of the area Example: Declaration: PROGRAM PLC_PRG VAR iColorAreaStart0 : INT := 80; END_VAR |
End of area | End value of the color area Example: 120 TipThe Variable property is displayed below the |
Variable | Variable (integer data type) for the end of the area Example: Declaration: PROGRAM PLC_PRG VAR iColorAreaEnd0: INT := 100; END_VAR |
Color | Color that is used for displaying the area |
State variables
The variables control the element behavior dynamically.
Invisible | Variable (
Example: |
Deactivate inputs | Variable (
|
Tip
The Invisible property is supported by the "Client Animation" functionality.
Permissions
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:
|