TouchWin has a versatile selection of standard objects. Their use and differences are presented here.
Text elements
The first three objects in the Part menu are text objects. They are described here in order.
Text
A simple text field with static text. You can set the font and positioning within the field. German umlauts are supported.
Dynamic text
A text that is switched via a variable (Word). You can enter a text for 16 states. This field is suitable for status displays and language switching. If you define an internal or external variable for the language selection, you can easily implement a language switch.
Variational text
A text that is switched via a variable. In contrast to dynamic text, you can store texts for any values of the linked variable.
Simple lamps and switches
Lamp
A simple lamp that supports the ON and OFF states. For the display, you can choose from the extensive galleries or create your own image for ON and OFF. You can also place a text over the light. The Twinkle setting allows the light to be displayed as a fast or slow flashing object, either when the connected variable has the On or Off state. This function is useful for alarms to attract the attention of the operator.
Button
Button is a simple switch. It does not display the state of the underlying variable, for this you use the next object Lamp Button. You can change the display for the normal and pressed states. You can use Operate to specify what the switch should do: Switch on, switch off, toggle or button (sets a bit only as long as it is pressed). Buttons can be protected with passwords, levels 1 to 9 are available. Level 1 can be switched from password level 1 to 9, level 2 only from level 2 to 9 and level 9 only from the level 9 password.
Lamp Button
Lamp Button is a switch that also displays the status of a variable. The switching variable and the displayed variable do not have to be the same. You can use the "Watch Object" option to select a variable for the display that is independent of the switching variable. Password protection is available.
Screen Jump
A switch for screen navigation. Simply select the number of the screen to be called up.
Data displays and inputs
Digital display
A simple display of a numerical value from the PLC or an internal variable. In the Display tab, you can set the display type (Dec, Hex, Float, Unsigned), number of digits, decimal places (Float) and whether leading zeros should be displayed. The default setting is Unsigned with 5 digits. Use Aspect to change the graphical display as usual.
Alarm display
An alarm display is very similar to the digital display, but here you can also monitor limits.
Display Text
Displays variables stored in the PLC as ASCII. You define the length via Data Register.
Digital Input
A very versatile input element for numbers. You can assign different values to the input variable and the displayed variable (Watch Object) in the Object tab. The input can be protected with a password. You can use Notify to set a bit in the PLC as soon as an input is made. Useful for alerting. Max and Min allow you to check the input before accepting it and you can use the Popup KeyBoard option to specify whether a keyboard is called up for the input and what it should look like.
ASCII Input
Similar to Digital Input, allows the input of text as ASCII in registers of the PLC or internal variables. Data Register again defines the length, various keyboards can be displayed for input.
Digital Keyboard
Displays a numeric keypad permanently (or in an animated position) on the screen. Is well suited for input screens, for example for parameterization. Each selected input element accepts input via this keyboard.
ASCII Keyboard
Displays a fixed (or animated) text keyboard on the screen. Is well suited for input screens. Each selected text input element accepts input via this keyboard.
User Input
Represents a fixed single input key. Action is stored using ASCII code. For example, an Enter key or ESC key can be generated. All input fields accept the input via this key.
Other elements in the part menu
Bar
Bar represents a dynamic bar. In the Stick tab, you can set the scaling, variable type and display. You can choose between horizontal and vertical bars via Mode.
Bar
Bar represents a dynamic bar. You can set the scaling, variable type and display in the Stick tab. You can choose between horizontal and vertical bars via Mode.
Dynamic Map
Allows you to select different bitmaps via a tab. Up to 16 bitmaps are possible. By default, an hourglass is animated; it can easily be transformed into a waiting display using a timer.
Call window
Invisible element that uses a configured variable to open a defined pop-up window at exactly this point. Pop-up windows are created in the project tree under Window and edited like normal images.
Window button
A visible button that can be used to open, close or switch a pop-up window at a specific point.
Down / Up Recipe
A visible button with which recipes can be downloaded to the PLC or uploaded from the PLC. To do this, a defined range of internal variables is simply transferred to a PLC register area. If the internal variables are described beforehand, simple recipe management or parameter downloads/uploads can be realized.
Function Button
A very versatile button that can be used to perform sequential actions, for example to set several bits / registers to set systems to a specific status or to load variables from CSV files and transfer them to the PLC as a recipe. All actions are executed one after the other.
Function Field
Like Function Button, but as an invisible field that executes sequential actions via a trigger. The following triggers are available:
- Start Screen - calls up the screen in which the element is located
- Coil Spring - trigger bit
- Time - time-controlled every n seconds
- Continue - permanent execution
- First Scan After Down - first scan after download
- First Scan After Power - First scan after switching on
The Time/Continue Coil Limit option defines a bit that determines whether the function is executed or not. Only applies to time-controlled or permanently executed functions.
Discrete Column Map (Discrete Fold Map)
Is a simple bar graph on which any variables are displayed as a bar chart. Can be displayed as a line chart (Fold), dot chart (Dot) or bar chart (Column). Limits and data type are defined for all variables.
Continue Column Map (Continue Fold Map)
Basically the same as the Discrete Column Map, except that a configurable number of consecutive registers are displayed here. This makes things easier if this is exactly what you want to do, because now you don't have to create all variables individually.
The panel menu
Further standard elements can be found in the panel menu.
Date / Time
Date and time display. Date and time are in system registers PSW 30 to 36 and can be changed via the real-time clock of the PLC (under Settings in the RTC tab).
Buzzer
Invisible element that generates a tone or continuous tone via trigger.
LCD light
Invisible element that does whatever.
Scale
Displays a non-animated scale. For simple animated bars use Bar.
Instrument
Displays an animated meter. Various displays are possible, colors can be adjusted, limits and warning areas can be set.
Valve
Represents an animated valve that can be operated with a click. It has a closed state and, when open, shows the flow movement of the pipe section below.
Pipe
Represents an animated pipe section. Can be stretched considerably to represent longer sections. Can also be configured vertically. T-pieces can be easily created by combining a horizontal and vertical piece. Create meshes of the same variable simply by copy-paste, change the height if the width is fixed or vice versa so that the pipe diameters remain the same.
Pump
Animated pump with two states. A movement is displayed. Object has no switching function.
Auto Wind
Represents an animated compressor or fan with two states. When switched on, a movement is simulated. Object has no switching function.
Motor
Represents an animated motor with two states. Object has no switching function.
Retort
Represents an animated tank, fill level is animated via an internal or external variable, the numerical values representing full and empty can be changed dynamically via variables. Filling level can be alarmed and alarm limits can be read from external or internal variables.
Inverter alarm information
Basically just a variational text that displays information about a frequency inverter. Works exactly like the Variational Text (see above).
Scroll Text
A scrolling text. Can be displayed either permanently or via a trigger bit.
The following elements are trends, alarm lists, data tables and data logging functions. We will cover these in more detail in the next chapters. In the next chapter, we will briefly look at navigation again.