Configuring a Show Symbol Animation

You can configure an element with a show symbol animation. A Show symbol animation shows a specified graphic in a new dialog box, when the element is clicked on.

You can configure:

• Which graphic appears in the new window.

• If the window has a title bar, and if so if it has a caption.

• If the window is modal or modeless.

• If the window has a close button.

• If the window can be resized.

• The initial window position.

• The size of the window.

You can configure the position to be in relation of the:

• Desktop, such as at edges, corners, or at center.

  

• Window, such as at one of its edges, its corners, its center or above, below, to the left or right. The window area includes the title bar if it appears.

  

• Client Area of your HMI/SCADA software.

  

• Source Symbol, in which case the Show Symbol window is positioned in relation to the entire source symbol that contains the element that called the window.

  

• Parent Element, in which case the Show Symbol window is positioned in relation just to the element that called the Show Symbol window.

  

• Mouse, in which case the Show Symbol window is positioned in relation to the pointer coordinates.

  

• Desktop coordinates. The graphic is placed in the vicinity of coordinates that relate to the desktop.

  

• Window coordinates. The graphic is placed in the vicinity of coordinates that relate to the window, including the title bar if shown.

  

• Client Area coordinates. The graphic is placed in the vicinity of coordinates that relate to the client area.

  

To configure an element with a show symbol animation

1. Select the element.

2. On the Special menu, click Edit Animations. The Edit Animations dialog box appears.

3. Click the Add icon and select Show Symbol. The Show Symbol animation is added to the Animation list.

4. Configure the graphic. Do one or more of the following:

   • In the Reference box, type a graphic name or browse for one by using the browse button.

   • To add a title bar to the graphic, select Has Title Bar.

   • To use the graphic name as window title, select Use Symbol Name for Window Title.

   • Select the window type, Modal or Modeless.

   • To add a Close button, select Has Close Button.

   • To add resize controls, select Resizable.

5. Select where you want the window to appear by selecting a position in the Position lists. The first list contains positions that are in relation to the item of the second list. Select one of the following:

   • Center

   • Top Left Corner

   • Top Right Corner

   • Left

   • Right of

   • Lower

   • Below

   • Above

   • Top

   • Left of

   • Right Side

   • Lower Left Corner

   • Lower Right Corner

     From the second list, select the item the position is referring to:

   • Desktop: relative to the entire desktop

   • Window: relative to the window.

   • Client Area: relative to the client area.

   • Parent Symbol: relative to the entire graphic that calls it.

   • Parent Element: relative to the element or element group that calls it.

   • Mouse: relative to the pointer.

   • Desktop X,Y: relative to a specified coordinate on the desktop.

   • Window X,Y: relative to a specified coordinate of the window.

   • Client Area X,Y: relative to a specified coordinate of the client area.

6. If you select Desktop X,Y or Window X,Y or Client Area X,Y as position, type the new coordinates in the X and Y value boxes.

7. Select how large you want the window to be in the Size list. You can select:

   • Relative to Symbol to make the window size the same as the size of the graphic.

   • Custom Width and Height to specify a width and height.

     Depending on your selection of the item the graphic is referring to, you can select:

   • Relative to Desktop to adjust the window size relative to the size of the desktop.

   • Relative to Window to adjust the window size relative to window that contains the graphic that calls it.

   • Relative to Client Area to adjust the window size relative to the client area.

   • Relative to Parent Symbol to adjust the window size relative to the size of the graphic that calls it.

   • Relative to Parent Element to adjust the window size relative to the size of the element that calls it.

8. Continue specifying position information.

   • If you select Relative... as size, enter a scaling percentage in the Scale Symbol box.

   • If you select Custom Width and Height as size, type the new width and height in the W and H boxes.

   • If you select Desktop, Window,Client Area, Parent Symbol or Parent Element as referred item, you can configure the object to be stretched horizontally or vertically. Do one or both of the following:

     • Select Stretch symbol to fit ... width and enter a height in the H box.

     • Select Stretch symbol to fit ... height and enter a width in the W box.

9. You can specify that the graphic window appears by pressing a key or key combination. In the Shortcut area:

   • Select a shortcut key in the Key list.

   • Select Ctrl and/or Shift to combine the shortcut key with the CTRL key and/or SHIFT key.

10. Click OK.

Related Topics

Configuring Common Types of Animations