ActiveX element

The ActiveX element enables integration of an existing ActiveX component.

	ActiveX control can only be used in combination with the integrated visualization and not in combination with the PLC HMI or PLC HMI Web.

Properties editor

The properties of a visualization element - except alignment and order - can all be configured in the properties editor. By default, this editor opens next to the visualization editor, or it can be opened explicitly via the "Properties" command (which can be found in the View menu as standard).

A property can be modified by editing the field "Value". To this end, an input field, a selection list, a dialog or checkbox that can be activated is provided in this field, depending on the element type. The value field opens

after a double-click,
after a single click in a selected field,
via the space bar, if the field was already selected.

If a variable is assigned,

simply enter its name.
Use the button to open the input assistant for selecting a variable. The Variables category lists all variables that have already been defined in the project.

Working in the list of properties can be made easier with the aid of default, sorting and filter functions.

Element properties

All element properties and their descriptions are listed below.

Element name

The element name can be changed. Standard name is "GenElemInst_x". "x" stands for a sequential number.

Element type

The element type is entered here. For three element groups it is possible to switch between the corresponding elements by changing the element type:

Auxiliary setting

Element

An installed ActiveX component can be assigned here. Use the ActiveX element 4: button to select a component via the input wizard. Enter a variable of type string, which describes the name or the ID of the component.

Position

Here you can define the position (X/Y coordinates) and size (width and height) of the element in pixels. The origin is in the top left corner of the window. The positive x-axis is on the right, the positive y-axis runs downwards. If the values edited, the displayed element is simultaneously modified in the visualization editor.

X	Horizontal position in pixels – X=0 is the left edge of the window.
Y	Vertical position in pixels – Y=0 is the upper edge of the window.
Width	Width of the element in pixels
Height	Height of the element in pixels

Absolute movement

The element can be moved by changing the x- and y-position (pixels) of the top left corner of the element via an integer variable. Absolute coordinate values are used here.

Motion

X: The integer variable entered here defines the current x-position of the top left corner of the element (in pixels). It can be used to move the element in x-direction. (A positive value moves the element from left to right).

Y: The integer variable entered here defines the current y-position of the top left corner of the element (in pixels). It can be used to move the element in y-direction. (A positive value moves the element from top to bottom).

State variables

These are dynamic definitions of the availability of the element in online mode.

Invisibility

Boolean variable. If this returns TRUE, the element is invisible in online mode.

Initial calls

Method calls that are executed during the initialization can be defined under this property. They are only executed in the first cycle.

Use the ActiveX element 5: button to create new method calls and associated parameters. The ActiveX element 6: button can be used to delete the corresponding method call with all settings, such as parameters and result parameters.

[<Number>]	Number that indexes a method call
Method	Name of the method to be called
Parameter	Parameter variables
Result parameter	Variable that is to contain the result. A result parameter is basically available to every method.

Cyclic calls

Method calls that are executed in each cycle can be defined under this property. They are called during the update interval of the visualization.

Use the ActiveX element 7: button to create new method calls and associated parameters. The ActiveX element 8: button can be used to delete the corresponding method call with all settings, such as parameters and result parameters.

[<Number>]	Number that indexes a method call
Method	Name of the method to be called
Parameter	Parameter variables
Result parameter	Variable that is to contain the result. A result parameter is basically available to every method.

Conditional calls

Method calls that are only executed under certain conditions can be defined under this property. They are called during the update interval of the visualization. In contrast to cyclic calls, a call condition is defined under the property "Call condition". They are only executed with a rising edge of the call condition.

Use the ActiveX element 9: button to create new method calls and associated parameters. The ActiveX element 10: button can be used to delete the corresponding method call with all settings, such as parameters and result parameters.

[<Number>]	Number that indexes a method call
Method	Name of the method to be called
Call condition	Boolean variable. The assigned method is called once exclusively on a rising edge of this variable.
Parameter	Parameter variables
Result parameter	Variable that is to contain the result. A result parameter is basically available to every method.

Access rights

This setting relates to the access rights for the individual element. Click to open the Access rights dialog. The setting is only available if a user management was added to the PLC project. The following status messages are available:

Not set. All rights.	The default message is set, if the element is shown as available for all groups.
Rights are issued: Limited rights.	The message is set, if the element is shown with limited behavior for at least one group.