In today's article I cover how to scale a value in a numeric display within FactoryTalk View Studio.
A reader recently reached out to me with a problem he was having.
He had a number like 411 that he wanted to be displayed as 4.11.
But when he changed the number of digits and decimal places in the numeric display's properties as shown below…
He found that while the display changed, the value didn't.
So I explained to him that while those settings wouldn't actually change the value displayed, he did have a few options to make the change he wanted.
First, I recommended he scale the value in the PLC.
That's my preference because I've found it can be very helpful to have both the raw and scaled values in the PLC when you're troubleshooting code.
But editing existing PLC code isn't always an option, so I also mentioned he could easily scale the Tag's value in the Tag's settings IF his numeric display referenced an HMI Tag .
However, when using Logix base processors most designers directly reference tags in the controller, and therefore I told him the easiest option would likely be to scale the value right there in the numeric display itself.
And that can be done by following the five simple steps below:
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Step 1) With the graphic open in View Studio, double click on the numeric display in question:
Step 2) Then select the “Connections” tab:
Step 3) Then click on the “Exprn” button to open the expression editor:
Step 4) Then enter in your expression and click on “OK” and then save your graphic display.
Note: In this example I divide the Tag by 100:
Step 5) Now when you test the display (or run the project) you'll see the actually value displayed is not the tag value but instead the result of your numeric display's expression:
Watch me demonstrate this procedure below in Episode 3 of The Automation Minute Season 4:
Have a question or comment? Please feel free to leave them with us HERE.
Until next time, Peace ✌️
Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator
Have a question? Join my community of automation professionals and take part in the discussion! You'll also find my PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.
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Shawn is a lifelong Technology Enthusiast who as a pre-teen in the early 80's discovered his passion for programing on the newly released Apple II and VIC-20 computers. After earning a degree in Electronics, Shawn worked as a Certified Automation Specialist for 25 years before leaving to focus full time on teaching online PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at The Automation School, as well as publishing industrial automation news, interviews, and how-to articles & videos at The Automation Blog.
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