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Button trend charts are used to display one or more analog values in a historical trend. This component is really two charts. The first chart is the button. The second chart is the trend. You must first configure the button chart properties to add sensors, etc. Then in the run mode click the button to present the historical chart. A separate edit button allows you to configure the settings for the trends.
To add a button chart to the current form, click the Add Button Chart in the Displays tab of the toolbar. Double click the component and add "like" sensors to the button chart properties. The sensors' data values will be shown on the button and in the trend.
Note: The button chart has a time step property that adds a new data point to the trend at that time step. The trend also updates when the data value of any sensor changes. This way changes in sensor values are recorded in the trends. Maximum and minimum values will not be missed.
The button chart shows the last value received for each sensor.
Click on button to view trend.
Button Chart Properties (On the button)
The button chart and trend chart have separate property setting. The button chart has a standard property dialog where you define the sensors to plot, the number of points to plot and the look of button. The trend chart properties are set by viewing the trend and then clicking on the red edit button.
1. Button Chart
The button chart shows the last received value for each sensor. Click the button to show the historical trend. If you right click the button chart in the run mode, you will be presented a chart property dialog that allows you to configure the look of the button chart. This dialog is the same at the trend chart property dialog.
2. Trend Chart Properties
The trend chart also has separate properties that can be set. Click on the red edit button to change the look of the trend chart. See the trend chart dialog options below.
The red edit button allows you to configure the look of the trends.
The chart trends each sensor defined by the button chart. The toolbar at the top is for editing the chart trends.
Trend Chart Toolbar
Edit Button (Red Square)
Click this button to change the properties of the trend chart. Below are several screens showing all the properties you can set for each trend.
Navigator Buttons
Click on the navigation buttons to go back in time or move forward. The double arrows go to the first or last page of data.
Points / Page Selection
This is the number of points plotted on the trend. If you enter a zero (0), the chart plots all the points. As you change the number of points, the chart is updated.
Mark Button
The mark button shows a yellow box with the data value for each point on the chart. If more than one series is being plotted a dialog box will be presented for you to specify the data series you want to mark.
Legend Button
This is the show chart legend toggle. The chart legend will be displayed showing a color symbol and name of the sensor being plotted.
Copy Button
The copy button copies the current chart to the clipboard. You can paste the chart into the report editor or into a graphics program like paint.
Print Button
The print button presents a print preview dialog box so you can select how you want the chart to print. You can cancel the print or print it to your printer.
3D Checkbox
The chart can show data in three dimensions or in two dimensions. Unchecked is two-dimensional, checked is three-dimensional.
Gradient Checkbox
The chart's background is either a solid color or gradient color. The gradient checkbox allows you to toggle this option on and off. The gradient start and end colors can be selected from the chart property dialog.
Setting up the Button Chart
To modify the properties of any component, double click it, and the Property Form will open. The property form shows the properties of the button. These properties should be set first before you configure the trend properties.
The ChartName property should be a unique name. This name is used when storing the trend charts properties, data and position. If two charts have the same name, one chart will overwrite another chart's data. Use chart names that are meaningful.
Button chart properties
These are the Button Chart Properties . These properties should be set first. Then change the trend properties. Change a property and click the update button to view your changes. You can always click the undo button to go back to the original components properties.
Trend Chart Property Dialogs
There are many properties that you will never set. The ones that are used the most are shown in the Axis tab, Titles tab, Paging tab and 3D tab. All the tabs are show below for reference.
The chart series name is show here. The type of data series is shown by small graphic
icon to the left. The check mark enables the trend. The square shows the color of the series.
The General tab allows you to export the chart, print preview it, set the zoom properties
and scroll properties.
The Axis tab allows you to set the left axis minimum and maximum values.
Use these to see the range desired.
The bottom Axis should be set to automatic. You can specify a minimum and maximum range
for custom charts. Data not in that range will not be shown. If your trend is not showing the
correct time, be sure to set the chart to automatic.
The Titles tab allows you to set the title for the trend. Change or add the text to help define
the sensors being trended.
Show the legend, position the legend and define what shows in the legend.
The Panel tab allows you to set the gradient color of the back panel.
The Paging tab allows you to set the number of points per page and to scale the last page.
The Walls tab allows you set the left wall, bottom wall and back wall of the trend.
The 3D tab allows you to set the three-dimensional properties of the trend.
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