Shapes & Animation Properties | Configuring animations | Quick Analysis | Text, Controls, and Links | Animation Thresholds
Animations dynamically update specific shape properties based on the value of the property's data source. The shape property that you animate is the target property. For example, suppose you animate the vertical fill percentage property of a shape and connect the shape to a data source tag that changes values from 0 to 100. As the tag's value changes, Proficy Portal updates the fill of the shape, as the following table describes.
|
When the value is... |
The shape is... |
|
0 |
Not filled. |
|
25 |
One-quarter filled. |
|
50 |
Half filled. |
|
75 |
Three-quarters filled. |
|
100 |
Completely filled. |
By animating a shape, you can create analysis displays that are more meaningful to your users. For example, you can show when a fan is in operation by rotating it, you can show the inventory level by vertically filling a rectangular bar, or you can show users the location of their packages in a tracking application by animating the horizontal and vertical position properties of a colored circle on a map.
To animate a shape, double-click it or right-click it and select Animations. When you select this option, the Animation dialog box appears.
Time Component objects cannot be animated.
For more information, refer to the Configuring animations section.
The Advanced tab provides quick access to animation settings. The following options can be set:
Data Source – Allows you to select the data source for the animation.
NOTE: If you are using an SQL statement as a data source for an animation, a parameterized SQL statement will result in an error unless a parameter value is supplied. A parameter value can be supplied by loading a symbol file that contains the value. For more information on symbols, see Symbols.
Properties – Allows you to select the property to be animated. This list includes properties that are specific to the object you want to animate, but that do not appear on the General tab.
Data Conversion – Allows you to define how the incoming data should be processed or formatted so that your objects behave according to the properties you have assigned to them. It also defines how the outgoing data calculates errors, what those errors mean, and how they are conveyed to operators.
