Animate fill levels

You can vary the fill level of an object using a percent fill link. The percent fill is based on the value of an analog tag or expression. You can create horizontal fills, vertical fills, or both.

For example, you can use a vertical fill link to show the level of liquid in a tank or a horizontal fill link to show the progress of a process.

You create the horizontal and vertical percent fill links the same way.

Create a percent fill link

1. On the Draw menu, in the Mode group, select Animate.

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

   The Animation Links dialog box appears.

2. In the Percent Fill section, do one of the following:

   • Select Vertical, the Vertical Fill -> Analog Value dialog box appears.

     

   • Select Horizontal, the Horizontal Fill -> Analog Value dialog box appears.

     

3. In the Expression box, type the name of an analog tag or an expression that equates to an analog value.

4. In the Properties section, do the following:

   1. In the Value at Max Fill box, type the value of the expression that will result in the object being filled to its maximum level.

   2. In the Value at Min Fill box, type the value of the expression that will result in the object being filled to its minimum level.

   3. In the Max % Fill box, type the percentage (0-100) that the object will be filled when the expression reaches the level set in the Value at Max Fill box.

   4. In the Min % Fill box, type the percentage (0-100) that the object will be filled when the expression reaches the level set in the Value at Min Fill box.

5. In the Direction section, select the direction to fill from.

6. In the Background Color box, select the color of the unfilled portion of the object.

   • The actual fill color is the color that you select for the object when you draw it.

   • If you link both vertical percent fill and horizontal percent fill links to the same object, the last color you select is the background color.

7. Select OK.