Objects and groups can be dynamically rotated during runtime, whenever the value of a particular expression changes. By default, as the value of the expression increases, the object/group will rotate clockwise (in increments). As the value of the expression decreases, the object/group will rotate anti-clockwise (in increments).
This property could be used to display an aerial view of the movement of a circular stacker in a coal mining operation.
Note: Rotational Movement cannot be used if the Rotational Slider is enabled. A group and its objects can be configured with any movement combination (i.e. a group can move vertically while one of its objects rotates, and so on).
Objects and groups have the following rotational movement properties:
Angle expression(253 Chars.)
The value of the expression entered in this field will determine the rotation of the object/group. During runtime, when the expression returns its minimum value, the object/group will rotate to its anti-clockwise limit. When the expression returns its maximum, the object/group will rotate to its clockwise limit. For intermediate values, the object/group will rotate to the appropriate position between the minimum and maximum limits.
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.
[Angle expression] Specify range
Select this box to manually specify Minimum and Maximum values for the angle 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.
[Angle expression] Minimum
Enter the minimum value for the expression. When this value is returned by the expression, the object/group will rotate anti-clockwise, by the minimum offset. You can only enter a value here if you have selected the Specify range box.
[Angle expression] Maximum
Enter the maximum value for the expression. When this value is returned by the expression, the object/group will rotate clockwise, by the maximum offset. You can only enter a value here if you have selected the Specify range box.
[Angle] At minimum
The anti-clockwise angle (in degrees relative to 0 degrees) that the object/group will rotate when the Angle expression returns its minimum value.
You can change the angle by pressing the up and down arrows to the right of the field, or by entering another value in this field.
[Angle] At maximum
The clockwise angle (in degrees relative to 0 degrees) that the object/group will rotate when the Angle expression returns its minimum value.
You can change the angle value by pressing the up and down arrows to the right of the field, or by entering another value in this field.
Note:You can rotate the object/group clockwise at minimum and anti-clockwise at maximum, by entering negative angles in the Angle fields, or by swapping the expression limits (in the Minimum and Maximum fields).
[Center axis offset] Express
Click this radio button for the quick and easy way of selecting the point about which the object/group will rotate. The express option gives you the choice of 9 points (Top Left, Bottom Right and so on), which are displayed in the picture field to the right of the dialog. To select one, just click it with your mouse.
[Center axis offset] Custom
Click this radio button to define your own center axis. When you select this radio button, two fields will display to the right, allowing you to plot the position of your center axis. Specify the distance to the right in the first field, and the distance down in the second. The Center axis is plotted based on these two values.
For example, if you enter 8 as the horizontal offset, and 13 as the vertical offset, the Center axis will be 8 pixels to the right, and 13 pixels below the center of the object/group.
Enter negative values in the offset distance fields to move the Center axis left instead of right, and up instead of down.
See Also