Draw date and time displays

This part of the tutorial shows how to draw Date and Time displays by linking Text objects to system tags.

Date and Time are system tags that hold the current date and time of the local station. These tags are available to any project.

1. On the Draw tab of the ribbon, in the Active Objects group, select Text.

2. Click on the screen, type Date: ##########, and then press Return.

3. Double-click the object to open its Object Properties dialog.

4. Click Text Data Link.

   The Object Properties dialog changes to show the properties for the Text Data Link animation.

5. In the Tag/Expression box, type Date.

   

   During run time, the project replaces the ########## characters of the Text object with the value of the system tag Date.

6. Close the Object Properties dialog.

7. On the Draw tab of the ribbon, in the Active Objects group, select Text.

8. Click on the screen, type Time: ##########, and then press Return.

9. Double-click the object to open its Object Properties dialog.

10. Click Text Data Link.

    The Object Properties dialog changes to show the properties for the Text Data Link animation.

11. In the Tag/Expression box, type Time.

    

    During run time, the project replaces the ########## characters of the Text object with the value of the system tag Time.

12. Close the Object Properties dialog.

13. Go to File, and then select Save.

This figure shows what your screen will look like after you have created the date and time objects.