Object Properties - Fill Color (Threshold)

Objects and groups have the following fill color (threshold) 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 0-255), 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 (and smoothly) 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 smooth fade from one color to another.

Color expression

The value of the expression entered in this field (128 characters maximum) determines the fill color of the object/group. i.e. When the value of this expression reaches a threshold value (as defined below), fill color will change.

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. (Threshold values are percentages of the range between Minimum and Maximum.) 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. In terms of thresholds, the Minimum is 0%. 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. In terms of thresholds, the Maximum is 100%. You can only enter a value here if you have selected the Specify range box.

Thresholds (%)

The thresholds and their associated colors. A threshold is entered as a percentage of the expression range (the range of values that can be returned by the expression). For example, if the expression's minimum is 0 and its Maximum 200, the default thresholds would have the following effects:

You can add up to 100 threshold color combinations. To add a combination, click Add and enter the relevant details. To edit an existing combination, click the relevant line. You can also remove combinations by clicking Delete.

Any values not included in a range (for example between 15% and 85% in the example above) produce a static fill color as specified through Appearance - General tab.

See Also