Properties | Dragging and dropping objects onto a display
For data source-specific information: WebSources | iHistorian Data Sources | SQL Data Sources | OPC Data Sources | FIX Data Sources | VisualSPC Data Sources | CIMPLICITY HMI Logger Data Sources | CIMPLICITY HMI Data Sources | PI Data Sources | Plant Applications Data Sources
An alternative way of adding objects to a display is to drag data sources onto a display from the Data Sources tab in the system tree. After dragging a data source item onto the display, a configuration wizard will appear to help you create a new object based on that data source. The Natural Presentation method of adding objects to displays can be used in the configuration and run-time environments. You can also add data to existing objects using the same method.
The drag-and-drop method of adding objects to a display can also work with Internet Explorer shortcuts. For example, you can drag and drop a shortcut from your desktop onto the display. A dialog box appears and you can choose to add either a Hyperlink or Web Control object. For more information on using Internet Explorer shortcuts, see Using Internet Explorer Shortcuts in Proficy Portal.
To use Natural Presentation to add objects to a display, templates must be established for the types of objects to be added. When an object is added with Natural Presentation, you can select a template or use the object's default template, so that object configuration can be skipped altogether. For more information on creating templates, see Templates, and for information on setting templates as default templates for objects, see Component Preferences.
You can also use the drag-and-drop method to add a data item from the Data Sources tree to grids and charts already in a display. To do this, select the data item from the Data Sources tree and drag and drop it over the grid or chart. You can then configure your data source and the item is added either as a column on the grid or an item on a chart.
NOTE: Only SQL SELECT statements are supported for drag-and-drop (Natural Presentation). You cannot drag and drop an INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statement.
The following objects can be added to a display using the drag-and-drop method:
Charts: Bar, Line, Pie, Time, XY, Variable SPC, Attribute SPC, and Correlation.
Controls: Text Box, List Box, Combo Box, and Web Control.
Grids: Grid and Historian Grid.
Links: Datalink and Hyperlink.
NOTE: The available objects will differ slightly depending on the type of data source used. See Natural Presentation Supported Objects by Data Source for details.
You can also add objects to a display by using the Insert menu and the Data Source Browser. Refer to the Developing a Display section for more information.
