Text Display

The Text Display graphic element is a control to show text or a string tag value. Text Display appears under
CommonControls
 in the
Toolbox
.
Use the Text Display graphic element to:
  • Show messages from the data source on the HMI device. For example, set up the data source to generate strings that report on the state of a process or operation, or that provide instructions about what the operator needs to do next.
  • Provide descriptive text or labels for other graphic elements on the screen.
Bind the
Text
 property to a string tag, a numeric tag, or an expression to display information from the data source. To use the Text Display as a label with static text, enter the static text value in the
Text
 box.
TIP:
Tips:
  • To change the
    Text
     property value, double-click the Text Display graphic element on the screen to select the text and enter a new value. If the Text Display is bound to a tag or expression, the
    Initial
     value of the
    Text
     box changes.
  • Do not place text against the border of a graphic element. Allow for a small difference in space, such as one or two characters. If you place text against the border of a graphic element, the text may wrap differently or appear clipped on the HMI device.
  • The maximum length of a text display reading from a String data type in a controller is 476 characters.
  • If the String is encoded using UTF-8, the text display may not show 476 characters because each character may take multiple bytes of data.
  • Embedding a REAL tag value in a text display or popup caption shows 13 digits after the decimal point by default. To reduce the number of digits after the decimal point, use a truncate and divide operation. For example, to limit the number of digits shown after the decimal point to 3 digits, use the expression TRUNC(MyTag*10e2)/10e2. To show n+1 digits, use the expression TRUNC(MyTag*10en)/10en.
Built-in animation properties
Built-in animation properties appear under the
General
category of the
Properties
window. Specify values for these properties in order to animate the graphic element or change the information the graphic element shows on the HMI device.
Name
Category
Purpose
Accepted values
Text
General
Specifies the text on the graphic element.
Do not place text against the border of a graphic element. Allow for a small difference in space, such as one or two characters. If you place text against the border of a graphic element, the text may wrap differently or appear clipped on the HMI device.
Alpha-numeric characters
Unique properties
Unique properties are properties that not all graphic elements in the
Toolbox
share.
Name
Category
Purpose
Accepted values
CornerRadius
Appearance
Specifies the curve of the corners.
0 or a positive number
FillColor
Appearance
Specifies the fill color.
Any selected color in the
Color Picker
 or a Hex color value entered manually. The Hex value must be in the format #RRGGBB. R, G, and B are Hex digits from 0 through F and represent the color channel values for red, green, and blue. For example, #ffff00 produces yellow.
TextAlignment
Appearance
Specifies the vertical and horizontal alignment of the text.
Vertical alignment:
  • Top
  • Center
  • Bottom
Horizontal alignment:
  • Left justified
  • Centered
  • Right justified
Color
Appearance/Border
Specifies the color of the border.
Any selected color in the
Color Picker
 or a Hex color value entered manually. The Hex value must be in the format #RRGGBB. R, G, and B are Hex digits from 0 through F and represent the color channel values for red, green, and blue. For example, #ffff00 produces yellow.
Style
Appearance/Border
Specifies the style of the border line.
  • Any selected Line style - None, Solid, Dash, Dot, Dash Dot, or Dash Dot Dot
  • Any selected Cap style - Flat, Round, or Square
  • Any selected Join style - Miter, Bevel, or Round
Width
Position and Size
Specifies the width in pixels.
Any positive number
FontName
Appearance
Specifies the font of the text.
Any selected font
FooterFontColor
Appearance
Specifies the color of the text in the footer.
Any selected color in the
Color Picker
 or a Hex color value entered manually. The Hex value must be in the format #RRGGBB. R, G, and B are Hex digits from 0 through F and represent the color channel values for red, green, and blue. For example, #ffff00 produces yellow.
FooterFontSize
Appearance
Specifies the size of the text in the footer.
Positive numbers
Bold
Appearance
Makes the text or value on the graphic element bold.
  • Bold - selected
  • Not bold - cleared
Underline
Appearance
Make the text underlined.
  • Underline - selected
  • No underline - cleared
Padding
Appearance
Specifies the distance, in points, between the content of the element and the edge of the element.
Any numeric value
Common properties
Common properties exist for all graphic elements.
Property
Category
Purpose
Accepted Values
Access
Security
Specifies if all users have access to the control element, or if access is inherited from the screen.
  • Inherit - Access inherited from screen.
  • Full Access - Access granted to all users.
Angle
Position and Size
Specifies the rotation angle.
Enter 180 to display the graphic element upside down. If you enter a value larger than 360, the portion of numeric value that is over 360 becomes the value. For example, enter 380 to see a value of 20. If you enter a value less than 0, the negative value is subtracted from 360. For example, enter -30 to see a value of 330.
  • Numbers 0 to 360
Enabled
Appearance
Specifies if the graphic element is available on the HMI device and if the graphic element accepts touch and key input.
  • Enabled - selected
  • Not Enabled - cleared
Height
Position and Size
Specifies the height in pixels.
Any positive numeric value
Opacity
Appearance
Specifies the transparency of the graphic element.
0 (fully transparent) - 100 (fully opaque)
Visible
Appearance
Specifies if the graphic element is visible on the HMI device.
  • Visible - selected
  • Not visible - cleared
Width
Position and Size
Specifies the width in pixels.
Any positive number
X
Position and Size
Specifies the horizontal coordinate, in pixels, from the upper left corner of screen to the upper left corner of a graphic element or group with no rotation. If the graphic element or group is rotated, the X property value does not change.
Any positive number
Y
Position and Size
Specifies the vertical coordinate, in pixels, from the upper left corner of screen to the upper left corner of a graphic element or group with no rotation. If the graphic element or group is rotated, the Y property value does not change.
Any positive number
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