Linear Gauges :: Categories of Controls (Gauges Blockset™)

Gauges Blockset™

Linear Gauges

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Library Overview Customizing Linear Gauges

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Library Overview

The Linear Gauges library contains controls that show their input values graphically along a linear scale. Blocks in the library differ from each other in their numerical ranges and in their use of pointers, numerical labels, text captions, and tick marks.

The blocks in this library fall into two categories, as listed below:

Pointer Linear Gauges	Bar Gauges
Generic Linear Gauge	Generic Bar Gauges
Min-Max Thermometer	Reverse Sliding Scale
Mixer	Scaled Bar Gauge
Mixer Scale	Tank
Multiple Scales	Thermometer

Blocks in the two categories have slightly different interfaces, capabilities, and appearances. Pointer linear gauges use one or more pointers to indicate values. Bar gauges use a level indicator or a two-color bar to reflect a single value or level.

Customizing Linear Gauges

This section describes how to customize linear gauges by making changes that are specific to the Linear Gauges library. For changes that apply to multiple categories of blocks, see these sections:

Customizing Pointer Linear Gauges

The table below lists some common customizations involving the ActiveX Control Properties dialog box that are specific to pointer linear gauges in the Linear Gauges library.

Task	Description
Change the shape or size of a pointer	On the Pointers panel, set PointerID to the ID of the pointer you want to change (`0` if there is exactly one pointer). Then use the Style property to choose the shape, the Inner and Outer properties to determine the length, and the Width property to determine the thickness.
Label a pointer by displaying the corresponding number	On the Digital panel, set PointerID to the ID of the pointer you want to label and check the PointerDigital check box.
Change the appearance of a pointer label	On the Digital panel, first set PointerID to the ID of the pointer whose label you want to change. Then use Decimals to set the number of digits after the decimal point, PointerDigitalColor to set the color of the number, and FontID to refer to a previously defined font (on the Fonts panel).
Move a pointer label to a fixed position	On the Digital panel, first set PointerID to the ID of the pointer whose label you want to change. Clear the PointerDigitalAttach check box and use PointerDigitalX and PointerDigitalY to set the fixed position for the label.
Move a pointer label to a position relative to the pointer	On the Digital panel, first set PointerID to the ID of the pointer whose label you want to change. Check the PointerDigitalAttach check box. For a vertical linear scale, use PointerDigitalX to set the independent coordinate for the label. For a horizontal linear scale, use PointerDigitalY to set the independent coordinate for the label.

Customizing Bar Gauges

The table below lists some common customizations involving the ActiveX Control Properties dialog box that are specific to bar gauges in the Linear Gauges library.

Task	Description
Change the range of values along the bar	On the General panel, use the Min Value and Max Value properties to define the range.
Change the orientation or direction of the bar	On the General panel, use Orientation to determine whether the bar is horizontal or vertical. Use Direction to determine which end of the bar corresponds to the minimum value.
Change the size or position of the bar	On the Bar panel, use the BarInner and BarOuter properties to define the width and position of the bar in the direction perpendicular to the linear scale. Use the BarStart and BarStop properties to define the length and position of the bar in the direction of the linear scale. These properties do not affect the numerical values associated with the bar, only the graphical depiction of the bar.
Change the colors of the portions of the bar on either side of the indicated level	On the Bar panel, use the OnColor and OffColor properties to define the colors associated with values below and above, respectively, the indicated level along the bar.
Change the shape or size of the level indicator	On the Knob panel, use the Style property to choose the shape. Use the Inner Value and Outer Value properties to determine the thickness and position in the dimension perpendicular to the linear scale. Use the Width property to determine the width along the linear scale.
Label the indicated level using a number	On the Digital panel, check the Enabled check box.
Change the appearance of the label	On the Digital panel, check the Enabled check box. Then use Decimals to set the number of digits after the decimal point, Color to set the color of the number, and FontID to refer to a previously defined font (on the Fonts panel).
Move the label to a fixed position	On the Digital panel, clear the Attach check box. Then use X Position and Y Position to set the fixed position for the label.
Move the label to a position relative to the level indicator	On the Digital panel, check the Attach check box. For a vertical (respectively, horizontal) linear scale, use X Position (respectively, Y Position) to set the independent coordinate for the label.

Combining Multiple Pointers in One Display

To display multiple pointers on a pointer linear gauge, see the customizations in the table below. To learn how to control multiple pointers simultaneously, see Controlling Multiple Graphical Elements.

Task	Description
Add another pointer to the display	On the Pointers panel, increase the Pointers property. The ID of the new region is the Pointers property value minus one. To specify properties of the new pointer, set PointerID to that ID and then set the remaining properties on the dialog box panel accordingly.
Delete the most recently added pointer from the display	On the Pointers panel, decrease the Pointers property. This deletes all properties associated with the pointer, such as its color and shape.

LEDs

Numeric Displays