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Topic Details for HMI

Using the SVG Library with Inkscape

Compound Objects

Compound Objects are constructed of multiple simple objects.

Numeric Keypads

Numeric keypads can be used to enter numeric values. A numeric keypad is a compound object that consists of a number of push buttons and a numeric display.

A numeric keypad operates like a calculator. The numeric keys append digits to the numeric display. When the decimal point '.' key is pressed, subsequent digits are appended to the right of the decimal. The sign key '-' toggles the sign. The clear key 'CLR' resets the accumulated number.

numeric keypad

The keypad comes in two versions. The first version has a store 'STR' key. The store key is used to write the accumulated value to the server.

The second version does not provide a store key. Instead, a separate store key must be provided. Providing separate store keys allows the same keypad to be used for multiple entries. Store keys come in integer and floating point versions, depending on the numeric type desired.

numeric keypad store

  1. Drag a numeric keypad onto the drawing.
  2. If the keypad does not have an integrated store ("STR") key, drag a store key onto the drawing.
  3. Select the store key.
  4. In Inkscape, select "Edit" and then "XML Editor".
  5. Change the scripting address tags from the default values to the correct tag names for the application. This is done in the same way as regular push buttons.

Since numeric keypads depend on having a specific name, you can have one standard keypad per HMI web page. If you need more than one keypad you will need to customise the numeric keypad to use a different name (copy the SVG file and change the embedded Javascript names).

You can however use the same keypad to provide input to different server tags by simply using different store keys. You can use as many store keys as you wish, but they will all derive their data from the same keypad (unless you modify them appropriately).

Numeric Increment/Decrement

Numeric increment/decrement objects allow numeric values to be altered by incrementing or decrementing them. A numeric increment/decrement object simply consists of a numeric display box with push buttons. The push buttons increment or decrement the value.

numeric increment/decrement

  1. Drag a numeric display box onto the drawing. Boxes with a wide rims are provided for this purpose.
  2. Add numeric digits (see the section on text and numbers for details). Set the "id" property appropriately.
  3. Drag increment and decrement push buttons onto the drawing and position them in suitable locations. Re-scale them if necessary. Set the parameters appropriately.

Text Increment/Decrement

A text increment/decrement object is identical to a numeric increment/decrement object except the value displayed is a text representation rather than an actual number. The numeric value in the server register is used as an index into a list of text strings which are displayed in place of the actual number.

See the documentation on the "HMI Client Display Library" for details on the available display functions.