Enabling String Input

You can create an object to enable users to input text strings such as batch names, operator ID, or passwords by using string input links.

To create a string input link

1. Select the object you want to apply the animation to.

2. On the Draw menu, in the Mode group, click Animate.

   Alternatively, right-click the object and then select Animation Links.

   The Animation Links window appears.

3. In the Touch Links area, under User Inputs, select String.

   The Input -> String Tagname dialog box appears.

   

4. In the Tagname box, type the name of a message tag.

5. Optionally configure a key equivalent and/or keyboard.

   • In the Key Equivalent area, assign a key equivalent to the link. For more information, see Creating Keyboard Shortcuts.

   • In the Keypad? area, click Yes if you want to show a keyboard for inputting the new value. In the Msg to User box, type the message to appear in keyboard.

6. In the Echo Characters? area, select if you want characters to appear in the input box as the user types the string.

   • Click Yes to show the typed text in the input box.

   • Click No to not show the typed text.

   • Click Password to use a "masking" character instead of the typed text. In the Password Char box, type the masking character. Select the Encrypt check box to encrypt the password.

     Important: Password encryption only works within the context of the InTouch HMI. Do not encrypt the string if you want to pass it to an external security system, such as the operating system or a SQL Server database. The external security system cannot read the encrypted password string and access will fail.

7. Select the InputOnly check box to prevent the input from appearing in a text field associated with the object.

8. Click OK.