Working with base and reference global objects

Use one of these methods to create a reference object:
  • Copy a global object from a global object display into a graphic display in the same application or, in a network distributed application, within the same HMI server.
  • Copy an existing reference object from one graphic display to another in the same application or, in a network distributed application, within the same HMI server.
  • Add a global object display into the Displays folder in the same application or, in a network distributed application, within the same HMI server. In this case, all objects saved in the display are converted to reference objects.
    TIP:
    If you add a global object display into the Displays folder in a different HMI server, the global objects are converted to standard graphic objects, rather than reference objects.
Changes made to the base object will be reflected in the reference objects linked to it, the next time the displays containing the reference objects are opened, or refreshed by closing and reopening. This is true both at design time and runtime. A reference object will also be refreshed with information from its base object, when a change is made to the reference object that requires it to retrieve information from the base object.
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Changes made to the
State
 or
Visible
 property of the base object are not reflected in the references objects linked to it.
When you select a reference object and open the Property Panel, there will be fewer properties listed for it in the Property Panel than there are for its base object. If you change the settings in the reference object for these properties (using the Properties dialog box), the changes will not be reflected in the base object. The base object properties that are not visible in the Property Panel for the reference object, are those that receive their values from the base object.
The reference object also has several properties that the base object does not have. These are the
Link
 properties that determine which information the reference object will receive from the base object. These properties are LinkAnimation, LinkBaseObject, LinkConnections, LinkSize, and LinkToolTipText.
If you change the default settings for the Link properties, the list of properties available in the Property Panel for the reference object might change. Also, if the changes to the Link properties mean that the reference object requires more information from the base object, it will be refreshed with this information as soon as the Link property is changed.
The
Link
properties are:
  • LinkAnimation
     - determines whether or not separate animation or expressions can be set up for the reference object.
  • LinkBaseObject
     - specifies the name and display of the base object. This property is read-only and cannot be changed.
  • LinkConnections
     - determines whether or not separate connections can be set up for the reference object
  • LinkSize
     - determines whether or not you can resize the reference object.
  • LinkToolTipText
     - determine whether or not the reference object will use the base object's tooltip text.
The default values for
LinkAnimation
,
LinkConnections
,
LinkSize
, and
LinkToolTipText
can be changed when you copy or drag a global object into a standard display in the Displays folder, or edit it later.
  • Library displays do not support global objects. When you copy a global object display into the Library folder, the base global objects become standard objects.
  • When you copy a standard display that contains reference global objects, into the Library folder, when the library display is opened, all reference objects will be deleted. If this leaves an empty grouped object, the group will also be deleted.
  • You can open a reference object's base object, by selecting the reference object and then clicking Edit Base Object from its context menu. This opens the display containing the base object and gives focus to the reference object's base object.
  • If the
    LinkBaseObject
    property for a reference object, points to a base object that no longer exists or is unavailable, the reference object is replaced by a red X on a white background.
  • If you delete, rename, or overwrite (using Save As) a global object display, the links between any base objects on the display and their reference objects, will be broken.
  • When you add a standard graphic display into the Displays folder from another HMI server, the links between reference objects on the display and the base objects will be broken.
  • However, if the current HMI server does not contain a global object display with a global object that matches the reference object's LinkBaseObject property, the reference object will be shown as a broken link.
  • For Group reference objects, Flip Vertical and Horizontal are not available on the Arrange menu or from the toolbar.
  • If a reference object has a State property, you can change the value of the reference object, but it will not change the value of the base object. Likewise, if you change the value of the base object, the value of the reference object will not be changed.
  • Any VBA code that has been assigned to a base object will be reused by its reference objects. The VBA code can be edited in the reference object, but any changes made to it will not be reflected in the base object. Also, any changes made to the base object's VBA code after the reference object has been created will not be reflected in the reference object.
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