Object Properties - Fill Color (Gradient)

Objects and groups have the following Fill Color (Gradient) properties:

[Type] On / Off

Select this radio button to fill the object/group with one color when a particular expression is TRUE, and another when it is FALSE. For example, you could fill an object/group with red when a particular variable tag is in alarm, and green when it is not.

[Type] Multi-state

This option is useful when you have several possible conditions, occurring together in different combinations, at different times. Select this option to fill the object/group with a different color for each combination.

For example, three digital variable tags (A,B, and C) can each be ON or OFF at any time. You can fill the object/group with a different color for each ON/OFF combination. In other words, you could use a different fill color for each of the following ON/OFF combinations ABC, ABC, ABC, ABC, ABC, ABC, ABC, ABC.

[Type] Array

The Array option allows you to enter an expression which returns an integer. For each unique integer (from 0 to 255), you can fill the object/group with a different color. For example, you could use a different fill color for each threshold of an analog alarm.

[Type] Threshold

Select this radio button to dynamically change the fill color when an expression reaches a specific value (threshold). For example, you might decide that the fill color will change to red when the speed of a motor is greater than or equal to 4500 rpm, and to white when less than or equal to 100 rpm, but remains gray for every speed in between.

[Type] Gradient

Select this radio button to dynamically graduate the fill color, displaying a different color for each unique value returned by a particular expression. This option allows you to select two colors, to be used as the color limits. The color for each value returned is automatically selected from within the range defined by these limits. The result is a fade from one color to another.

Color expression

The value of the expression entered in this field (128 characters maximum) will determine the fill color of the object/group. By default, when the expression returns its minimum value, the fill color will be the At minimum color (as defined below). When the expression returns its maximum value, the fill color will be the At maximum color (as defined below). When the expression returns a value half-way between its minimum and maximum, a color will be selected from the half-way point of the range defined by the At minimum and At maximum colors.

To insert a tag or a function, click the Wizard button to the right of this field. This button displays two options: Insert Tag and Insert Function.

[Color expression] Specify range

Select this box to manually specify Minimum and Maximum values for the Color expression, rather than using the default values. For an expression containing an analog variable tag, the defaults are the Engineering Zero and Full Scale values from the last variable tag in the expression. If the analog variable tag does not have Engineering Zero and Full Scale values, the defaults are 0 (zero) and 32000. For expressions without tags, the defaults are 0 (zero) and 100.

[Color expression] Minimum

Enter the minimum value for the expression. When this value is returned by the expression, the fill color of the object/group will be the At minimum color. You can only enter a value here if you have selected the Specify range box.

[Color expression] Maximum

Enter the maximum value for the expression. When this value is returned by the expression, the fill color of the object/group will be the At maximum color. You can only enter a value here if you have selected the Specify range box.

At minimum

The fill color of the object/group when the Color expression returns its minimum value.

At maximum

The fill color of the object/group when the Color expression returns its maximum value.

See Also