Dashboard tab

Automation Connect offers basic functionality for controlling and displaying interface variables. For this function an additional tab is added to the general Automation Connect interface collection. The dashboard therefore appears like a regular interface tab and offers some similar functionalities such as logging, displaying connection states, saving or control buttons e.g. for disconnecting. In contrast to regular interfaces it does not have a in- and output variable list, but instead offers a blank panel for managing input controls (see figure Figure 51).

Figure 51: Automation Connect Dashboard

As controls are used to write values, they are only used for input variables. Output variables are instead converted to a simple plot inside a sperate window.

The addition of variables to the dashboard is done through the variable mapping tab. Here the user can select relevant in- and outputs, and right-click and select "read from / write to dashboard". According to the direction of the selected variables either plots or controls are automatically created. Controls generally offer a sliding bar with user-configurable minimums and maximums to control the linked input variable, except for Boolean variables, which are displayed as a button.

Variables with attached plots / controls are marked with a small icon inside the variable mapping tab, which also acts as a shortcut to jump to the linked control / plot (see figure Figure 52)

Figure 52: Adding controls to the dashboard

If input variables are both connected to an output and a dashboard control, the control command value will be used and written while the output value will be discarded. This input variable then is considered "forced", which is also displayed in the variable mapping tab with a dotted line. To disable this behavior and use the original linked output variable value, you can disable relevant dashboard controls with the checkbox in the upper left corner of every control. This mechanic can be used e.g. to easily switch between the correct simulated value and a manual forced error value.

Additional features

In addition to displaying and controlling values, the dashboard offers some usability features:

• Arranging controls: Input controls can be both relocated and resized. By default, the controls snap to a coarse grid, whereby the influence of the grid size is minimized with the checkbox "free placement".

• Renaming controls: controls by default display the name, origin and datatype of the linked variable. By double-clicking the name label, the user can enter a custom name for this control.

• Background picture: the user can add a background picture to the dashboard with the button "Load image". Note that the image can neither be scaled nor repositioned. To remove the image, click the load image button again and cancel the selection.

• Sinus generator: with this checkbox the dashboard will display a simple sinus function and create a virtual output variable, which can be used for basic connection and data transfer checks with other interfaces.

• Setting "Auto update Min Max": This option controls the automatic scale update in the input controls on entering values. If enabled, the defined minimum / maximum will automatically be updated when the user manually enters a value outside the range. If disabled, the user can manually enter values higher / lower than the maximum / minimum without changing the limits. (the sliding bar will simply jump completely to the right / left side)