You can define keyboard shortcuts and assign specific actions to them. At runtime, a visualization detects the keyboard input event and executes the action.
There are different locations where you can configure a keyboard input event.
The options include the following:
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Configure keyboard input for a specific element.
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Configure keyboard input for a specific visualization.
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Configure keyboard input that is valid for all visualizations.
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Select the default hotkeys.
If the visualization integrated in CODESYS is executed, then you can deactivate the keyboard input of the visualization in order to use the keyboard shortcut from CODESYS in this state.
Configuring keyboard shortcuts for elements
You can define a keyboard shortcut that triggers an action for an element. The element has to be visible and operable. For this purpose, the property “Input configuration Keyboard shortcuts” is available in the “Properties” view of the visualization editor.
Requirement: A CODESYS project is open with the existing visualizations visEllipse and visRectangle.
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Select the application in the device tree and add a visualization named
visMain.The visualization editor opens.
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In the “Visualization Toolbox” view, select and drag the “Frame” element to the editor.
The “Configuration of Frame Visualizations” dialog opens.
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Double-click in succession the
visEllipseandvisRectanglevisualizations in “Available Visualizations”.The visualizations appear in “Selected Visualizations”.
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Click “OK” to exit the dialog.
The visualization contains a new element type “Frame”. The 2 selected visualizations appear under its property “References”.
In the editor, the frame shows the visualization with the index
0. -
Add a button and configure its properties:
Select
Rectanglein the property “Texts Text”.In the “Input configuration OnMouseDown” property, select “Toggle frame visualization” for the visualization
visRectangle.Specify the value
Rin the property “Input configuration Keyboard shortcuts Key”.The button has a user input and a keyboard shortcut.
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Add a button and configure its properties:
Select
Ellipsein the property “Texts Text”.In the “Input configuration OnMouseDown” property, select “Toggle frame visualization” for the visualization
visEllipse.Specify the value
Ein the property “Input configuration Keyboard shortcuts Key”.The button has a user input and a keyboard shortcut.
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Click “Online Login” for the device and start the application.
The visualization starts. It has a frame where one of the referenced visualizations runs. Focus on the
visEllipsevisualization and press [E]. The visualization switches the contents in the frame to thevisEllipsevisualization. When you press [R], the visualization switches the contents in the frame to thevisRectanglevisualization.
Configuring keyboard shortcuts for a specific visualization
You can define keyboard shortcuts that trigger an input action on a specific visualization. The “Keyboard Configuration” tab in the editor of the visualization is used for this purpose.
Requirement: A CODESYS project is open with the visualizations visEllipse and visRectangle.
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Open the CODESYS TargetVisu object and select
visEllipseas the start visualization. -
Open the
visEllipsevisualization and click the “Keyboard Configuration” tab. -
Click “Visualizations Keyboard Configuration”.
The “Keyboard Configuration” tab opens.
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Select the value
Cin the “Key” column. -
Activate the “Press key” option.
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Select the “Change shown visualization” value in the “Action Type” column.
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Select
visRectanglein the “Action” column.The user input is configured for [C].
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Open the
visRectanglevisualization and click the “Keyboard Configuration” tab. -
Select the value
Cin the “Key” column. -
Activate the “Press key” option.
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Select the “Change shown visualization” value in the “Action Type” column.
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Select
visEllipsein the “Action” column.The user input for [C] is also configured for this visualization.
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Build the application.
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Click “Online Login” for the device and start the application.
The visualization starts and displays an ellipse. Focus on the
visEllipsevisualization and press [C]. ThevisRectanglevisualization is displayed. Focus on the visualization and press [C] again. Now the visualization is switched again tovisRectangle.
Configuring keyboard shortcuts for all visualizations in the application
You can define keyboard shortcuts that trigger the same input action for all visualizations of the application. The “Default Hotkeys” tab in the Visualization Manager is available for this purpose.
Requirement: A project is open with a visualization.
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Open the visualization.
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Add a rectangle.
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Configure the property “Texts Text” with
Keyboard shortcut. -
Double-click the “GlobalTextList” object.
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Click in the table, “Add Language”, and then specify
de.The language
deis configured. -
Click in the table, “Add Language”, and then specify
en.The language
enis configured. -
Configure translations for
deandenfor the textKeyboard shortcut.Hotkey Keyboard Shortcut Hotkey -
Open the Visualization Manager and select the “Default Hotkeys” tab.
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Specify
Din the “Key” column. -
Activate the “Press key” option.
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Select the “Change language” value in the “Action Type” column.
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Select the language
dein the “Action” column.The keyboard event for [D] is configured.
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Specify
Din the “Key” column. -
Activate the “Press key” option.
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Select the “Alt” option.
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Select the “Change language” value in the “Action Type” column.
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Select the language
enin the “Action” column.The keyboard event for [Alt]+[D] is configured.
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Compile, download, and start the application.
The visualization opens.
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As the visualization user, press [D].
The text is displayed in the language
de.
Activating standard keyboard handling
When you activate the universal keyboard shortcuts for standard keyboard handling, the user can operate the visualization without a mouse. Elements that respond to user input can process a keyboard event instead of a mouse event without adapting its input configuration.
Requirement: A project with a visualization is open.
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Click the “Visualization Manager” object.
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Activate the “Activate standard keyboard handling” option.
The universal keyboard shortcuts are activated.
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Download the application to a device and start the application.
The visualization starts. Now operation can proceed without the mouse. You can navigate in the window by means of the [Arrow] and [Tab] keys and press [Enter] instead of the mouse button.
Activating and deactivating keyboard shortcuts for integrated visualizations
If you execute the visualization as an integrated visualization, then the “Visualization Activate Keyboard Usage” command is available in order to deactivate the capturing of keyboard events. It is actually possible for the same keyboard shortcuts to be defined in the visualization and in CODESYS
When you activate the command, the visualization executes the configured keyboard events.
When you deactivate the command, CODESYS executes the keyboard events. Capturing keyboard events is then deactivated for the visualization.