CimEdit offers you a number of tools and features to help you design the CimView screens that will work most effectively in your organization. The choices you make depend, of course, on your project's information requirements. You also have the flexibility to cater to your own and the users' design preferences.

The basic issues you will deal with are to determine the:

1	Estimate the number of screens for a project.
2	Select objects to convey CimView data.
3	Unleash the power of CimView.
4	Add ActiveX and other objects.
5	Trigger actions in CimView.
6	Monitor processes in CimVew.

1. Estimate the Number of Screens for a Project

When you have determined your information requirements, you can estimate the number of screens that need to be designed. The number will be influenced by the:

Anticipated number of viewer destinations that require different screens

Type and number of monitoring and regulating tasks that can be divided into logical units

Amount of information to be displayed, keeping in mind that displays need to be clear to view in a runtime environment

 Note: Using frames is another layout option if you have several objects on a screen that will change during runtime, based on a similar set of conditions.

2. Select Objects to Convey CimView Data

CimEdit provides you with a huge variety of objects to contain, display, and let the CimView user act on the data flowing to, from, and within it.

Objects include:

	Basic graphic shapes that you create.
	Text objects.
	Graphic images.
	Wide variety of SmartObjects from CimEdit's Object Explorer.
	ActiveX controls including the CIMPLICITY Alarm Viewer and Trend chart and OLE objects.

These objects may be a:

Single element, such as a text message

Pre-configured group of objects, such as most objects in CimEdit's Object Explorer

Group of objects combined by you

CimEdit also provides you with a huge variety of tools as toolbar buttons and menu items to change the object's appearance. This includes changing its:

	Size.
	Shape.
	Angle of rotation.
	Color and fill.

Another time saving feature provided by CimEdit is the ability to create linked objects.

Linked objects save you valuable time by providing you with the ability to change a single object, the linked object, and then let CIMPLICITY finish the job of updating every link to that linked object, in your entire project.

In addition, this single source capability insures that any specification or change made to the linked object will be reproduced exactly in every link to that linked object.

By mapping out the data flow, you can narrow down your choice of objects for each CimEdit task. Because each configuration is composed of a series of small steps, you can easily change your mind as you begin configuration.

3. Unleash the Power of CimView

When objects are laid out you are ready to make them work for you.

Anything on the screen, including the screen, can be involved in actions that occur

Within CimEdit, for example, another screen can be opened.

A machine or process can be turned on and off or regulated.

Objects can also be used to monitor plant processes, including:

Normal operations

Alarm states

Trends

It is in this phase of configuration that you will involve various types of data. What you want each object to represent and do will determine which type you use.

You may have placed some of the objects on your CimEdit screen to promote one or more actions. The screen, itself, can also be involved.

4. Add ActiveX and Other Objects

Because CimEdit provides you with ActiveX objects, such as Trend and XY charts, as well as the ability to use such diverse items as entire CAD drawings you may need to do more configurations. Simply continue in the same systematic manner.

5. Trigger Actions in CimView

The process is straightforward, involving a:

Trigger

An event triggers a procedure or calls a script. CimEdit provides a long list of events from which you can choose the best one for your requirements.

Result

A procedure is one or more actions that are triggered in the specified order when an event occurs and while the screen is displayed in CimView. CimEdit provides several actions from which a screen designer can easily compile a meaningful list.

A script , which is usually written by a system administrator, uses the same Editor and Basic language as the Basic Control Engine. Anything you can do in a normal script, you can do in a CimEdit script. CimEdit provides additional extensions to give you a wider range of screen development choices. However, CimEdit scripts are only accessible from the screen in which you create them.

6. Monitor Processes in CimView

CimEdit provides several choices to create activity on your screens that make if easy for a CimView user to quickly determine the status of a point or expression.

Items can:

	Move.
	Rotate.
	Change in size.
	Fill.
	Change color and text through animation.

Items can be:

	Groups.
	Objects.
	Text.
	Lines and shapes.

Each configuration involves a few simple arithmetic calculations. Combining or nesting activities requires only the simple configuration that you do for each.

Your options depend only on the requirements for your project, your ingenuity, and system resources.

More information

CimEdit configuration overview.

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