dl-breadcrumbs__homedl-breadcrumb-item__separatorConfiguration and programmingdl-breadcrumb-item__separatorProgramming with CODESYSdl-breadcrumb-item__separator...dl-breadcrumb-item__separatorCODESYS Visualizationdl-breadcrumb-item__separatorReference, user interfacedl-breadcrumb-item__separatorVisualization Elementsdl-breadcrumb-item__separatorVisualization Element 'Group Box'
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Visualization Element 'Group Box'dl-permalink__symbolPermalink

Symbol:

_visu_img_group_box

Category: “Common Controls”

The element provides a visual grouping of visualization elements. The group box can have multiple levels of nesting.

You can also use drag&drop to add elements to a “Group Box”. To do this, drag the element to the window area of the “Group Box”. The appearance of the cursor changes (a small plus sign is displayed). When you click the [Shift] key at the same time, the element is not added.

You can remove elements from the “Group Box” by dragging them out of the window area.

Element properties

“Element name”

Example: ‎Parameter axis 1‎

Optional

Hint: Assign individual names for elements so that they are found faster in the element list.

“Type of element”

“Group Box”

“Clipping”

_cds_icon_option_activated: Elements that protrude beyond the size of the group box are clipped.

Element property 'Position'

The position defines the location and size of the element in the visualization window. These are based on the Cartesian coordinate system. The origin is located at the upper left corner of the window. The positive horizontal x-axis runs to the right. The positive vertical y-axis runs downwards.

“X”

X coordinate of the upper left corner of the element

Specified in pixels.

Example: ‎10‎.

“Y”

Y coordinate of the upper left corner of the element

Specified in pixels.

Example: ‎10‎.

“Width”

Specified in pixels.

Example: ‎150‎

“Height”

Specified in pixels.

Example: ‎30‎

You can also change the values by dragging the box symbols (_visu_icon_position_element) to other positions in the editor.

Element property 'Center'

The properties contain fixed values for the coordinates of the point of rotation. This point of rotation is shown as the _visu_icon_center_point.png symbol. The point is used as the center for rotating and scaling.

“X”

X-coordinate of the point of rotation

“Y”

Y-coordinate of the point of rotation

You can also change the values by dragging the symbols (_visu_icon_center_point.png) to other positions in the editor.

Element property 'Texts'

The properties contains character strings for labeling the element.

CODESYS accepts the specified texts automatically into the “GlobalTextList” text list. Therefore, these texts can be localized.

“Text”

Character string (without single straight quotation marks) for the labeling the element.

Example: ‎Axis 1‎.

“Tooltip”

Character string (without single straight quotation marks) that is displayed as the tooltip of an element.

Example: ‎Parameters of Axis 1‎.

Element property 'Text properties'

The properties contain fixed values for the text properties.

“Font”

Example: “Default”

_cds_icon_three_dots: The “Font” dialog box opens.

_cds_icon_arrow_down: Drop-down list with style fonts.

“Font color”

Example: “Black”

_cds_icon_three_dots: The “Color” dialog box opens.

_cds_icon_arrow_down: Drop-down list with style colors.

“Transparency”

Whole number (value range from ‎0‎ to ‎255‎). This determines the transparency of the respective color.

Example: ‎255‎: The color is opaque.

‎0‎: The color is completely transparent.

Please note: If the color is a style color and already has a transparency value, then this property is write-protected.

Element property 'Absolute movement'

The properties contain IEC variables for controlling the position of the element dynamically. The reference point is the upper left corner of the element. In runtime mode, the entire element is moved.

“Movement”

“X”

Variable (numeric data type). Defines the X position (in pixels).

Example: ‎PLC_PRG.iPos_X‎.

Increasing this value in runtime mode moves the element to the right.

“Y”

Variable (numeric data type). Defines the Y position (in pixels).

Example: ‎PLC_PRG.iPos_Y‎.

Increasing this value in runtime mode moves the element downwards.

“Rotation”

Variable (numeric data type). Defines the angle of rotation (in degrees).

Example: ‎PLC_PRG.iAngle1‎.

The midpoint of the element rotates at the “Center” point. This rotation point is shown as the _visu_icon_center_point.png symbol.

In runtime mode, the alignment of the element remains the same with respect to the coordinate system of the visualization. Increasing the value rotates the element to the right.

 _visu_img_prp_rotation

“Scaling”

Variable (integer data type). Causes centric stretching.

Example: ‎PLC_PRG.iScaling‎.

The reference point is the “Center” property.

The value ‎1‎ shrinks the element by a factor of ‎0.001‎. The value ‎1000‎ returns the element to its original size.

“Interior rotation”

Variable (numeric data type). Defines the angle of rotation (in degrees).

Example: ‎PLC_PRG.iAngle2‎.

In runtime mode, the element rotates about the point of rotation specified in “Center” according to the value of the variable. In addition, the alignment of the element rotates according to the coordinate system of the visualization. Increasing the value in the code rotates clockwise.

The rotation point is shown as the _visu_icon_center_point.png symbol.

Note: If a static angle of rotation is specified in the property “Position  Angle”, then the static angle of rotation is added to the variable angle of rotation (offset) when the visualization is executed.

 _visu_img_prp_inner_rotation

You can link the variables to a unit conversion.

The properties “X”, “Y”, “Rotation”, and “Interior rotation” are supported by the "Client Animation" functionality.

See also

Element property 'State variables'

The variables control the element behavior dynamically.

“Invisible”

Variable (‎BOOL‎). Toggles the visibility of the element.

‎TRUE‎: The element is not visible at runtime.

Example: ‎bIsVisible‎ with ‎VAR bIsVisible : BOOL := FALSE; END_VAR‎

“Deactivate inputs”

Variable (‎BOOL‎). Toggles the operability of the element.

‎TRUE‎: User inputs do not have any effect in runtime more. The element is shown as deactivated.

The “Invisible” property is supported by the "Client Animation" functionality.

These properties are available only when you have selected the “Support client animations and overlay of native elements” option in the Visualization Manager.

“Animation duration”

Defines the duration (in milliseconds) in which the element runs an animation

  • Variable (‎integer value‎)

    Example: ‎Menu.tContent‎ with ‎VAR tContent : INT := 500; END_VAR‎

  • Integer literal

    Example: ‎500‎

Animatable properties

  • “Absolute movement”, “Movement”, “X”, “Y”

  • “Absolute movement”, “Rotation”

  • “Absolute movement”, “Interior rotation”

  • “Absolute movement”, “Exterior rotation”

The animated movement is executed when at least one value of an animatable property has changed. The movement then executed is not jerky, but is smooth within the specified animation duration. The visualization element travels to the specified position while rotating dynamically. The transitions are smooth.

“Move to foreground”

Moves the visualization element to the foreground

Variable (‎BOOL‎)

Example: ‎bIsInForeground‎ with ‎VAR bIsInForeground : BOOL := FALSE; END_VAR‎

‎TRUE‎: At runtime, the visualization element is displayed in the foreground.

‎FALSE‎: At runtime, the visualization element is displayed in the layer where it was inserted in the visualization editor.