HMI

Module 09
Mimics - Basics
Contents

1 Introduction 3
1.1 PcVue version 3
1.2 In this module you will learn how to 3
1.3 Files used in this module 3
1.4 Third party software used in this module 3

2 This feature in PcVue architecture 4

3 Basics 5
3.1 The Workspace 5
3.2 The mimic object 7
3.2.1 Create a mimic 8
3.2.2 Operational modes 11
3.2.3 Mimic properties 11
3.2.4 How to open a mimic automatically on start-up 13

4 Summing-up 14

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1 Introduction
1.1 PcVue version
This module is for PcVue version 12.

1.2 In this module you will learn how to

Customize the workspace,
Use the main properties of mimics,
Make the Homepage mimic.

1.3 Files used in this module

The PcVue project as at the end of Module 8 Basic.
The images and bitmaps from the Module 9 project folder.

1.4 Third party software used in this module

None.

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2 This feature in PcVue architecture

Figure 1

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3 Basics
3.1 The Workspace
The workspace is the name given to the area occupied by the Supervisor on the PC
screen. The workspace contains all the tools necessary to develop Supervisor
applications and is the container for the windows that form the User Interface at
runtime. Within the workspace you will find the following features:

Figure 2

The Menu Bar: The Menu Bar provides access, using either the keyboard or the
mouse, to all the development tools. By using the mouse, the menu bar can be
dragged and docked to any outside edge of the workspace, or it can be left
floating anywhere on the screen. The menu bar may be opened and closed from
a pop-up menu displayed by clicking with the right mouse button anywhere
within the workspace’s background. A tick indicates that the menu bar is visible.

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 The toolbars: The toolbars give you quick access to the most commonly used
tools for window development and run-time operation. As with the menu bar,
the toolbars may be floating or docked. You can select which toolbars are open
from a pop-up menu displayed by right-clicking anywhere on the menu bar. A
tick indicates that a toolbar is open.
The Status bar: The status bar is located at the bottom of the workspace, above
any toolbars you may have docked there. It provides information on the current
state of the workspace including the current cursor position and zoom level of
the active window.

You can show and hide these bars using the Function keys F6 and
F8.

The workspace’s appearance and behaviour are changed using the Display/Workspace
Properties command.

Figure 3

The following properties may be changed.

The size of the workspace and its location on the screen.
The workspace colour.
The appearance of the title bar and its contents.
The tools that are available from the title bar.
The number of monitors used (in the Regions tab)

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 Exercise 1.
Change some of the Workspace’s properties and check the effect.
Then customize it as follows:

Figure 4

The # character has special meaning in PcVue. It is used to

indicate substitute of a string. You will use this character many
times in your design.

A list of the various substitutions for the title bar is available in the
online Help in: The configuration environments / The HMI /
Changing the Workspace Properties.

3.2 The mimic object

The User Interface for your Project is developed as a set of mimics. Mimics are easily
and quickly developed to form Menus, Overviews, Process Diagrams, Trend Displays
and so on. Mimics can be linked together to form a hierarchical display.

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Of course you can have several mimics opened in the same time. The list of the
opened mimics is displayed using the Window menu.

Figure 5: In this figure one mimic is open. Its name is Mimic1 and its title is Mimic1.

Figure 6: In this figure two mimics are open.

Each PcVue mimic is saved in a file of the same name - the mimic and file are
effectively one and the same. For this reason the main commands associated with
mimics are found in the File menu.

Figure 7

3.2.1 Create a mimic

Step 1. To create a new mimic, use the File / New command or Control + N
keys. A dialog opens to request the template you want to use for this mimic.
Templates will be covered in another module. Click the OK button.

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 Figure 8

Step 2. To save this mimic, use the File / Save command or Control + S
keys. The Save mimic dialog appears. Enter the name and click the OK button.

Figure 9

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 Exercise 2.
Create the Homepage mimic.

Where is the Homepage file physically located?

What happens if I copy the Homepage file to another project?

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3.2.2 Operational modes
Mimics can be displayed in two main modes selected from the Mode toolbar.
Run:
In Run mode the animated properties of drawing elements in the mimic are
updated in real time.
Design:
In Design mode the properties of drawing elements do not update in real time.
Drawing elements may be added, modified and deleted and the support window
modified. This is the mode of operation used while you are developing a mimic.

3.2.3 Mimic properties

Each mimic (as with any object in PcVue) has a set of properties. You can display
them using the command Window / Window properties.... Because there are many
properties they are organised in a range of tabs.

Figure 10

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 Exercise 3.
Change the properties of the Homepage mimic as in the
following screenshot.

Figure 11

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3.2.4 How to open a mimic automatically on start-up
Step 1. Open the Application Explorer and, in the configuration tree, select
the node representing the project. (Top of the tree)
Step 2. From the task list select Settings.
Step 3. Select Station startup.
Step 4. Tick the First window option.
Step 5. Select the mimic name by clicking the button adjacent to the Mimic
field.

Figure 12

Exercise 4.
Configure the TRAINING project to open the Homepage
mimic automatically.
Restart PcVue to test it.

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4 Summing-up
The Workspace can be customized.
One mimic is one file.
A mimic has many properties which can be customized.

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