Real-Time Charts

Plots the values of variables against time. See Add to Charts.

real_time_charts.png 

Corner Controls

Columns

Selects the number of charts per row. Charts are re-tiled when this setting is changed.

Auto Tile

Causes the charts to be re-tiled when the window is resized. Each chart is resized to the same height and widths are distributed evenly on each row.

Always on Top

Keeps the charts window on top of other windows.

Demonstrate helpvideo00003.png

Opens a short video clip that demonstrates the basic workflow of this window.

Help help00004.png

Opens this section of the manual.

New Page

Creates a new tabbed page. Charts are always added to the currently selected page.

Rename Page

Opens a dialog to rename the currently selected page.

Tile Pages

Re-tiles the charts on all pages. Each chart is resized to the same height and widths are distributed evenly on each row.

Options

Sets options on the chart whose title bar is highlighted. See Options.

Bandwidth

Amount of network bandwidth being used to get the chart data from the real-time host, located in the lower right hand corner. This includes graphs in HMI Display windows too.

Charts

Each chart is held in an internal frame that acts somewhat like a regular window.

Title Bar

Shows the name of the variable being charted.

To rearrange charts, click and drag on the title bar to move the chart to a new location. The page will dynamically be re-tiled when charts are moved about.

To move a chart to another page, click and drag on the title bar and move the pointer to the page’s tab.

Maximize

Enlarges the chart to occupy the entire page. Click on the button again to normalize its size.

Close

Closes the chart. The remaining charts will be re-tiled.

Resize

Individual charts may be resized by clicking and dragging on the frame’s border. Adjacent frames will be moved or resized to make room.

y-Axis

Color coded scales for the CVT or Alt value (green and yellow, respectively, by default).

By default, each y-axis is autoscaled. To set a manual scale, click on the top and/or bottom of the y-axis and enter a number in the text box that pops up. Use the variable control buttons to re-enable autoscaling.

To specify a different C language format string for a y-axis scale, click on the axis between the top and bottom values and enter a new format string in the text box that pops up.

Options may also be use to modify the y-axis’ settings.

x-Axis

Time scale. The negative numbers indicate time extending into the past. The main graph and the zoom control each have their own scale.

To specify a different C language format string for the x-axis time scale, click on the axis and enter a new format string in the text box that pops up.

Options may also be use to modify the x-axis’ settings.

Variable Control Buttonsvariable_control.png

Color coded buttons for controlling the CVT and Alt value plots. See Current Value Table and Alternate Values.

To turn off a plot, click on the corresponding button. It will have an X drawn in it and the corresponding plot (including y-axis scale) will go away. Click on it again to bring the plot back.

To turn autoscale back on after manually setting the scale by clicking on the top or bottom of the y-axis, right click or control-click on the corresponding button. Autoscale may also be set through Options.

Pausechart_control.png

Pauses plotting the chart. Press again to resume plotting. The data sent while plotting is paused is lost and will not be plotted when plotting is resumed.

Hide Zoom Controlchart_control00006.png

Hide’s the zoom control, allowing the main chart to use the full height of the frame. Click on it again to bring the zoom control back.

Zoom Controlreal_time_charts00007.png

Smaller graph below the main graph that displays (by default) ten times as much time. The portion of the zoom control graph that is displayed in the main graph is highlighted. This highlighted portion is called the selection window.

To adjust the range of time in the zoom control that is selected, and thus displayed in main graph, click on the left or right edge of the selection window and drag left or right.

To slide the whole selection window to a different range of times, click on the interior of the selection window and drag it left or right.

If the chart is resized to be too small to display the zoom control, the zoom control is hidden and the main graph will show the full time range.

Options

Pressing the Options button or right clicking on the graph area of the chart will bring up the Options dialog.

options.png 

Changes to options are visible in the chart immediately.

Plot # value_selection.png

Selects which plot n the chart window the settings will operate on. Plots are numbered from 0 to N where 0 is the first variable displayed; I.e. the first variable in plot legend at the top of the chart.

Auto Scale

Selects whether the range of the y-axis scale is determined from the observed minimum and maximum values, and adjusted dynamically as smaller or larger values are encountered, or the range is set to user selected values. See Maximum and Minimum below, and Variable Control Buttons,

Show Axis

Selects whether the y-axis and scale are displayed or not.

Maximum

Maximum value on the y-axis scale. The user may set this manually if the Auto Scale setting is turned off. See y-Axis.

Minimum

Minimum value on the y-axis scale. The user may set this manually if the Auto Scale setting is turned off. See y-Axis.

Format

C language format string for the floating point values of the scale labeling the y-axis. See y-Axis.

Axis Ticks

Number of labeled tick marks on the y-axis scale, including the minimum and maximum endpoints.

Plot Colordotdotdot.png

Color of the axis, button, and plot for the CVT or alternate value. See Color Chooser Dialog. The chart does not display the new color until the color chooser dialog is closed.

# of Data Points

Number of data points that are plotted. This determines the amount of time plotted on the x-axis.

Time Axis Colordotdotdot.png

Color of the x-axis and text. See Color Chooser Dialog. The chart does not display the new color until the color chooser dialog is closed.

Fontdotdotdot.png

Font used for all text in the chart. See Font Chooser Dialog. The chart does not display the new font until the font chooser dialog is closed.

Time Format

C language format of the scale on the x-axis.

Time Axis Ticks

Number of labeled tick marks on the x-axis scale including the minimum and maximum endpoints.

Background Colordotdotdot.png

Background color of the chart. See Color Chooser Dialog. The chart does not display the new color until the color chooser dialog is closed.

Copy to All Chartscopy_to_all_charts.png

Copies the current (possibly modified) settings of the selected chart to all other charts and closes the Options dialog.

OKok.png

Closes the Options dialog leaving the selected chart with all changes made.

Cancelcancel.png

Reverts the selected chart to its original settings and closes the Options dialog.

customized_chart.png