About graphics visibility during runtime

Two conditions determine if a graphic can be shown or hidden during runtime using faceplate compatibility mode. The following table shows the conditions to show or hide a graphic on a faceplate:

• The FaceplateMode Runtime Behavior property must be set to True to show or hide a graphic in faceplate compatibility mode. The FaceplateMode default value is False, which shows a graphic under all reference conditions.

• A faceplate graphic is hidden if FaceplateMode is True and an invalid reference is made from a graphic to a target attribute from the following:

  • Graphic element

    When FaceplateMode is True and a graphic element has an invalid reference through animation or script, only that graphic element is hidden within a graphic. If the graphic element is part of a graphic embedded into another graphic, the embedded graphic still appears although the graphic element with the invalid reference is hidden.

  • Embedded graphic

    When FaceplateMode is True and an embedded graphic has an invalid reference, then the entire graphic will be hidden. To show or hide an embedded graphic based on the value of FaceplateMode, a reference must be made to the entire graphic that is embedded, not just to a graphic element that belongs to the graphic.

  • Expressions

    Animation expressions, script expressions, or custom property expressions are not evaluated if there is at least one invalid expression.

  • Animations

    If an animation has an invalid reference, then the graphic associated with the animation will be hidden in faceplate mode. If an animation has a valid reference then its animation will execute. Animations with valid references are evaluated even if the graphic with which the animation is associated is hidden by faceplate mode. This is because a graphic element may be associated with several animations, some which may be valid while others are invalid.

  • Scripts

    Named scripts, action scripts, data change scripts value scripts, and On show/On hide scripts, do not run if a script has at least one invalid reference.

  • Quality and status icon

    Global status and quality ignores invalid references and does not show any status and quality indications related to them.

  • Error and warning messages

    When a graphic is set to faceplate compatibility, no error or warning messages are logged for invalid references. The data status graphic element is hidden if it contains an invalid reference.

  • Undeployed GR node

    In faceplate compatibility mode, objects show a Configuration Error status when the GR node is undeployed. Any graphic that shows a Configuration Error message is hidden. The graphic becomes visible again when the GR node is redeployed.

  • Stopped App engine

    In faceplate compatibility mode, objects show a Communication Error status when an App engine is undeployed. Any graphic that shows a Communication Error message remains visible and is not hidden.

    Runtime Behavior of Faceplate Mode

Graphics configured for faceplate compatibility mode follow defined inheritance rules during runtime.

Embedded Graphics

Embedded graphics inherit faceplate compatibility from the parent to child graphic during runtime. But, faceplate compatibility mode is not inherited from the child to the parent embedded graphic.

In the following figure, Symbol B is set to faceplate compatibility during design time. During runtime, Symbol C embedded within Symbol B inherits faceplate compatibility.

Graphic Groups

If a parent graphic is set to faceplate compatibility mode, then all its child embedded graphics and graphic groups inherit faceplate compatibility mode at runtime.