Command ‘Multiply Visu Element’

Symbol:

Function: The command opens the Multiply Visu Element dialog, which contains a configuration derived from the template element and the array declaration. You can rearrange the elements here, as well as their quantity and the index access to the array data. When you exit the dialog, a field of similar elements is created from the template element. In the properties of the new elements, array variables are now configured with precise array indexes. These new elements are those in which you have configured an array variable with index access placeholders in the template.

Call: Menu bar: Visualization ; context menu

Requirement: The visualization is active and a configured template element is selected.

Dialog ‘Multiply Visu Element’

Tab Basic Settings
Total number of elements The total number is determined by the index range of the placeholders, including the setting on the Advanced Settings tab. The layout of the elements can be one-dimensional (as a column or row) or two-dimensional (as a table field).
Horizontal

Number of elements per row

Default: Number of array components (index range) of the placeholder $FIRSTDIM$

Example for array: axLampIsOn: ARRAY[0..4] OF BOOL; = 5
Vertical

Number of rows required for the layout of all elements

Default

  • When using index access placeholder $FIRSTDIM$:

    If the index range of the placeholder is less than five, then the layout of elements is horizontal. If the index range is greater than five, then the layout the elements is quadratic whenever possible.

  • When using index access placeholders $FIRSTDIM$ and $SECONDDIM$:

    The number of horizontal elements is equal to the number of index ranges specified by the placeholder $FIRSTDIM$. The number of vertical elements is equal to the number of index ranges specified by the placeholder $SECONDDIM$.
Offset between elements

Distance between the new elements; affects the positions of the new elements

  • 0 : The frames of the elements overlap by one pixel.
  • 1 : The elements touch.
  • <n> : A distance of n-1 pixel is visible between the elements.
Horizontal

Distance between the elements within a row (in pixels)

Example: 2 for a distance of one pixel
Vertical

Distance between the elements within the columns (in pixels)

Example for a distance of three pixels: 4
Arrangement of elements

Origin from which the new elements are positioned and arranged

If Vertical or Horizontal <> 1

  • From top left
  • From top right
  • From bottom left
  • From bottom right

If Horizontal or Vertical = 1

  • From top
  • From bottom
Orientation

Determines the layout of the elements in the field (row by row, or column by column)

  • Line by line
  • Column by column
   
Preview Displays the set layout and orientation of the elements as an arrow
Tab Advanced Settings
Array access Based on the template element, the precise index for accessing the array variable is calculated for each new element. The calculation is based on the array index limits as specified in the array declaration. The settings are also taken into account here.
1st dimension

Calculation guideline for the index of the first dimension that replaces $FIRSTDIM$

The first new element gets the value specified below in Start index in the first dimension. The other elements each get an index incremented by Increment until an index is calculated for all elements.

Example

  • Start index: 1
  • Increment: 1
2nd dimension

Calculation guideline for the index of the second dimension that replaces $SECONDDIM$

The first new element gets the value specified below in Start index in the second dimension. The other elements each get an index incremented by Increment.

Example

  • Start index: 1
  • Increment: 1
OK First, it is validated whether the calculated indices are in the index range of the array variable. If so, then the elements that match the template element are created and arranged as a field (row, column, or table). The placeholder indexes are replaced by the calculated indexes.

Example

Declaration of array variables

VAR
asTexts_Example: ARRAY[1..2,1..2] OF STRING :=
        [
                '1A Text', '2A Text',
                '1B Text', '2B Text'
        ];
        asToolTips_Example: ARRAY[1..2,1..2] OF STRING :=
        [
                '1A Tooltip', '2A Tooltip',
                '1B Tooltip', '2B Tooltip'
        ];

        axUserInput_Example: ARRAY[1..2,1..2] OF BOOL;
END_VAR

Visualization with template element and its property configuration

Dialog ‘Multiply Visu Element’
Tab Basic Settings  
Total number of elements  
Horizontal 2
Vertical 2
   
Offset between elements  
Horizontal 2
Vertical 2
   
Arrangement of elements From top left
Orientation Line by line
Tab Advanced Settings  
Array access  
1st dimension  
Start index 1
Increment 1
2nd dimension  
Start index 1
Increment 1

Visualization at runtime:

See also