Lookout

cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Can a Multistate display text in lieu of a graphic

I'm connecting to a N register in an Allen Bradley PLC through a symbolic link (Client-Server setup). I need to display different text messages based on the values 0, 1, 2, 4 of the N register (N7:5_0, N7:5_1, N7:5_2, N7:5_3 respectively) A Multistate would probably work but I need text and not graphics. What can I do other than make text graphics or how to write a text choose expression using values 0,1,2,4
 
Thanks
0 Kudos
Message 1 of 4
(3,428 Views)

Hi ICI,

You will need to make an expression using an "if" statement.

For example: if(..\AB_PLC.n7:5_0=true,"OFF",if(..\AB_PLC.n7:5_1=true,"HAND",if(..\AB_PLC.n7:5_2=true,"AUTO",if(..\AB_PLC.n7:5_3=true,"JOG",""))))

This assuming you are monitoring a bit. If you monitor a word the statement will use the value of the number instead of true.

I hope this helps.

Butler

0 Kudos
Message 2 of 4
(3,415 Views)
If you don't want to use an IF statement, you can just create several logical expressions, and use the text option.
So, let's start off with creting a logical expression that displays text. I am sure we all can create an expression that will display the text.
 
Go to menu item Insert/Expression, put in your address in the yellow box. Set the Display Type pulldown selector to Logical. We now get the Display Logical Signal dialog box. Select the bottom radio button next to Text. Here we can put text in our "on" state, and in our "off" state.
 
However this is where the trick comes in. Select 'Background Style' Transparent. And only type in the text you want in the 'On' value. Click OK, you now have your object on the panel, however you might not be able to see it (it will be selected though). Make it the size you want, and position it where you want it. Now Shift Click and drag off the object, and put it right back on top. You now have 2 objects on top of each other, and they are the same, Change one of them to the new address, and change it's 'On' text value to be what you want it to say. You can keep doing this to build up your text messages on top of each other, and only the object that is 'On' will have it's text displayed. You need to be sure that only 1(one) of your addresses can be on at a time, or 2 messages will be showing up on top of each other. If you want to have a text plate around this object, to make it look better, create a blank text object, and set this down first, and then create your objects on top of it, Or you could create it last, and move it to the back. I would suggest that after you get it looking the way you want, you 'Group' it so it 'holds' together for easy movement.
 
Hope this helps,
 
Rich Anderson
Green Bay, WI
0 Kudos
Message 3 of 4
(3,362 Views)

One last thing I forgot to mention (goes with post above)...

This has been the only way I have been able to figure out on how to make a logical expression (displaying text, show different colored text, depending on the state). It would be nice if I could select the text properties (color, etc) for the 'on' state, and make them different for the 'off' state. So for that I end up using 2 logical expressions stacked on top of each other and leave the opposite state 'blank'. Like I said, be sure to select 'transparent' for the expressions that are 'on-top' of the your 'base' expression. (this "base" expression can be a plate, inset, etc.)

Rich Anderson

Green Bay, WI

0 Kudos
Message 4 of 4
(3,324 Views)