Placeholders with Format Definition in the Output Text

A character string which is output in the visualization can include the placeholder ‎%‎ for a variable. At runtime, the placeholder is replaced by the actual value of the variable in the defined format. The data type in the format definition and of the variable have to be identical. A character string can contain a maximum of one placeholder.

Character strings for output are listed in the “Text” property. The assigned variable is listed in the “Text variable” property.

See also

For the output of integers

`‎%d‎` `‎%i‎`	Output of variable (integer data type) as decimal number	Code: `‎iCounter : INT := 12;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Value: %i‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.iCounter‎` Output: `‎Value: 12‎`
`‎%b‎`	Output of variable (integer data type) as binary number	Code: `‎byCode : BYTE := 255;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Coding: %b‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.byCode‎` Output: `‎Coding: 11111111‎`
`‎%o‎`	Output of variable (integer data type) as unsigned octal number without a preceding zero	Code: `‎byCode : BYTE := 8#377;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Coding: %o‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.byCode‎` Output: `‎Coding: 377‎`
`‎%x‎`	Output of variable (integer data type with max. 32 bits) as unsigned hexadecimal number without a preceding "0x"	Code: `‎dwCode : INT := 16#FFFFFFFF;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Coding: %x‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.dwCode‎` Output: `‎Coding: ffffffff‎`
`‎%llX‎` `‎%012llX‎`	Output of 64-bit variable (`‎LWORD‎`, `‎LINT‎`, `‎ULINT‎`) as hexadecimal number. Note: `‎llx‎` means "long long hexadecimal"	Code: `‎lwCode : LWORD := 16#4FFF_3FFF_2FFF_1FFF;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Coding: %llx‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.lwCode‎` Output: `‎Coding: 4fff3fff2fff1fff‎`
`‎%u‎`	Output of variable (integer data type) as unsigned decimal number	Code: `‎uiNumber : UINT := 1234;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Number: %u‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.uiNumber‎` Output: `‎Number: 1234‎`

For the output of floating-point numbers

Floating-point numbers have the data type ‎REAL‎ or ‎LREAL‎.

`‎%f‎`	In decimal form with decimal point in format 1.6	Code: `‎rWeight : REAL := 1.123456789;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Weight: %f‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.rWeight‎` Output: `‎Weight: 1.123456‎`
`‎%<alignment><minimum width>.<accuracy>f‎`	As decimal number in user-defined format `‎<alignment>‎`: `‎-‎` or `‎+‎`, optional `‎-‎`: Left-aligned `‎+‎`: Right-aligned `‎<minimum width>‎`: Number of places to the left of the decimal point `‎<accuracy>‎`: Number of places to the right of the decimal point	Code: `‎rWeight : REAL := 12.1‎` Property “Text”: `‎Weight: %2.3f‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.rWeight‎` Output: `‎Weight: 12.100‎`
`‎%e‎`	Output of floating-point number (`‎REAL‎` or `‎LREAL‎`) in exponential notation of base `‎10‎`	Code: `‎rValue : REAL := 1.234567%e-003;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Value: %E‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.rValue‎` Output: `‎Value: 1.23E-6‎`
`‎%E‎`		Code: `‎rValue : REAL := 1.234567%e-003;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Value: %e‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.rValue‎` Output: `‎Value: 1.23e-6‎`

For the output of text

‎%c‎

Output of single character in ASCII character set

Code: ‎bChar := 16#41;‎

Property “Text”: ‎Key: %c‎

Property “Text variable”: ‎PLC_PRG.bChar‎

Output: ‎Key: A‎

‎%s‎

Output of character string

Code: ‎strName := 'Paul Smith';‎

Property “Text”: ‎Name: %s‎

Property “Text variable”: ‎PLC_PRG.strName‎

Output: ‎Name: Paul Smith‎

For the output of the percent sign

‎%%‎

Output of percent sign in character string

Property “Text”: ‎Valid until 90%%‎

Output: ‎Valid until 90%‎

Code: ‎iPercentage : INT := 80;‎

Property “Text”: ‎Valid until %d%%.‎

Property “Text variable”: ‎PLC_PRG.iPercentage := 80;‎

Output: ‎Valid until 80%‎

For the output of the date and time

If the output text in the element “Text” property contains the placeholder "%t", then a date and/or time is output. If a variable is not specified in the “Text variable” property, then the system time is output; otherwise it is the value of the variable.

By default, the names of the days and months are displayed in English. If localized texts are used, then the text list ‎System‎ has to be supplemented. This text list is created automatically in the “POUs” view when the placeholder %t is used. The English terms have to be used as the ID here. The localization can be done for both the abbreviated names and full names.

Time data types include ‎LTIME‎, ‎TIME‎, ‎TIME_OF_DAY‎, ‎TOD‎, ‎DATE‎, ‎DATE_AND_TIME‎, and ‎DT‎.

Compatibility Notice

In order to get the usual display, in V3.5 SP17 and higher, as a rule three digits are used for the output of fractions of a second (ms/µs/ns). Example: In ‎%t[dd-HH:mm:ss:ms]‎, ‎ms‎ is specified with three digits for the milliseconds. For this purpose, the two-digit ms number is prepended with a zero. If a two-digit output is desired (like before V3.5 SP17), then a special compiler define has to be set in the compiler properties of the application: ‎VISU_MILLISEC_NOLEADING_ZERO‎.

Date and time formats
`‎%t[yyyy]‎`	Year with century	Code: `‎dateBy : DATE := DATE#2020-1-1;‎` Property “Text”: `‎By the year %t[yyyy]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.dateBy‎` Output: `‎By the year 2020‎`
`‎%t[yy]‎`	Year without century (00–99)	Code: `‎dateSince : DATE := DATE#2000-1-1;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Since: %t[yy]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.dateSince‎` Output: `‎Since: 00‎`
`‎%t[y]‎`	Year without century (0–99)	Code: `‎dateSince : DATE := DATE#2000-1-1;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Since: %t[y]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.dateSince‎` Output: `‎Since: 0‎`

`‎%t[MMMM]‎`	Month as full name	Code: `‎dateMonth : DATE := DATE#2016-1-1;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Month: %t[MMMM]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.dateMonth‎` Output: `‎Month: January‎`
`‎%t[MMM]‎`	Month as abbreviated name	Code: `‎dateMonth : DATE := DATE#2016-1-1;‎` Property “Text”:: `‎Month: %t[MMM]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.dateMonth‎` Output: `‎Month: Jan‎`
`‎%t[MM]‎`	Month as number (01–12)	Code: `‎dateMonth : DATE := DATE#2016-1-1;‎` Property “Text”:: `‎Month: %t[MM]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.dateMonth‎` Output: `‎Month: 01‎`
`‎%t[M]‎`	Month as number (1–12)	Code: `‎dateMonth : DATE := DATE#2016-1-1;‎` Property “Text”:: `‎Month: %t[M]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.dateMonth‎` Output: `‎Month: 1‎`

`‎%t[ddddd]‎`	Day of week as number (1=Monday – 7=Sunday)	Code: `‎iDay : INT := 7;‎` Property “Text”:: `‎Day: %t[ddddd]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.iDay‎` Output: `‎Day: 7‎`
`‎%t[dddd]‎`	Day of week as full name	Code: `‎iDay : INT := 7;‎` Property “Text”:: `‎Day: %t[dddd]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.iDay‎` Output: `‎Day: Sunday‎`
`‎%t[ddd]‎`	Day of week as abbreviated name	Code: `‎iDay : INT := 7;‎` Property “Text”:: `‎Day: %t[ddd]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.iDay‎` Output: `‎Day: Sun‎`
`‎%t[dd]‎`	Day of month as number (01–31)	Code: `‎iDay : INT := 1;‎` Property “Text”:: `‎Day: %t[dd]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.iDay‎` Output: `‎Day: 01‎`
`‎%t[d]‎`	Day of month as number (1–31)	Code: `‎iDay : INT := 1;‎` Property “Text”:: `‎Day: %t[d]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.iDay‎` Output: `‎Day: 1‎`
`‎%t[jjj]‎`	Day of year as number (001–366)	Code: `‎dateOfNoReturn : DATE := DATE#2016-09-01;‎` Property “Text”:: `‎Day of no return: %t[jjj]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.dateOfNoReturn‎` Output: `‎Day of no return: 245‎`

`‎%t[HH]‎`	Hour in 24-hour format (00–23)	Code: `‎todEnd : TOD := TIME_OF_DAY#17:0:0;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Ends at: %t[HH]:00‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.todEnd‎` Output: `‎Ends at 17:00‎`
`‎%t[hh]‎`	Hour in 12-hour format (01–12)	Code: `‎todEnd : TOD := TIME_OF_DAY#17:0:0;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Ends at: %t[hh] o'clock‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.todEnd‎` Output: `‎Ends at: 05 o'clock‎`

`‎%t[mm]‎`	Minutes with leading zero (00–59)	Code: `‎tPeriod : TIME := T#5M;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Period: %t[mm]m‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.tPeriod‎` Output: `‎Period: 05m‎`
`‎%t[m]‎`	Minutes without leading zero (0–59)	Code: `‎tPeriod : TIME := T#5m;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Period: %t[m 'm']‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.tPeriod‎` Output: `‎Period: 5 m‎`
`‎%t[ss]‎`	Seconds with leading zero (00–59)	Code: `‎tPeriod : TIME := T#5m3s;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Period: %t[mm'm'ss's']‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.tPeriod‎` Output: `‎Period: 05m03s‎`
`‎%t[s]‎`	Seconds without leading zero (0–59)	Code: `‎tPeriod : TIME := T#5m3s;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Period: %t[m'm' s's']‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.tPeriod‎` Output: `‎Period: 5m 3s‎`
`‎%t[ms]‎`	Milliseconds without leading zero (0–999)	Code: `‎tPeriod : TIME := T#500ms;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Period: %t[ms 'ms']‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.tPeriod‎` Output: `‎Period: 500 ms‎`
`‎%t[us]‎`	Only for `‎LTIME‎` variables: microsecond definition (0–999)	Code: `‎ltPeriod :LTIME := LTIME#1000D23H44M12S34MS2US44NS;‎` Property “Text”: `‎'Period': %t[dd.HH.m.s.ms.us.ns]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.ltPeriod‎` Output: `‎Period: 1000.23.44.12.34.2.44‎` Hint: Overflow is permitted in the greatest time unit of a definition.
`‎%t[ns]‎`	Only for `‎LTIME‎` variables: nanosecond definition (0–999)

`‎%t[t]‎`	If the value is a time < 12h, then A is output; otherwise P is output.	Code: `‎tClosed : TOD := TOD#17:17:17.17;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Closed at %t[hh:mm t]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.tClosed‎` Output: `‎Closed at 05:17 P‎`
`‎%t[tt]‎`	If the value is a time < 12h, then AM is output; otherwise PM is output.	Code: `‎tClosed : TOD := TOD#17:17:17.17;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Closed at %t[hh:mm tt]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.tClosed‎` Output: `‎Closed at 05:17 PM‎`

`‎%t[' ']‎`	If character strings should be output which correspond to a format definition, then these have to be represented in single straight quotation marks.
`‎TIME‎` and `‎LTIME‎` values can be specified with integer values or with decimal places:
`‎%t[<f><n>]‎`	A number (<n>) which defines the number of decimal places of the time value follows the letters which define the time unit (<f>). As a result, the hours, minutes, and seconds (for TIME values) and also the microseconds and nanoseconds (for LTIME values) can be specified or displayed as values with decimal places. Note: Even if a decimal number is not desired for the input or display, at least the number "0" has to be specified to allow for fractional input.	Examples of the formating `‎%t[hh4]‎` or `‎%t[HH4]‎`: The time can be specified/displayed with a hour definition of four decimal places. `‎%t[mm2]‎` or `‎%t[m2]‎`: The time can be specified/displayed with a minute definition of four decimal places. Then for a value of `‎t#1h20m15s‎`, this leads to the following output: `‎80.25‎`. `‎ %t[ss0]‎`: The time can be specified/displayed with a second definition without decimal places.

The format definitions can be represented in a series.
`‎%t[HH:mm:ss:ms]‎`	Output of the time	Code: `‎dwTime : DWORD := 4294967295;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Time: %t[HH:mm:ss:ms]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.dwTime‎` Output: `‎Time: 23:59:59:999‎`
%t[yyyy-MM-dd dddd]	Output of the date and day of the week	Code: `‎dateSet : DATE := DATE#2016-02-12;‎` Property “Text”: `‎Date: %t[yyyy-MM-dd dddd]‎` Property “Text variable”: `‎PLC_PRG.dateSet‎` Output: `‎Date: 2016-02-12 Friday‎`