Display Creator - Graphics Software for Customising Colour Displays USER MANUAL
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Table of Contents Copyright ...............................................................................2 Introduction ..........................................................................5 About CAN Signals and Channels ......................................................6 How to Create a Display Configuration Functional Overview .................................................7 ..................................................................8 About Element Selection .................
MoTeC Alarm Icon Element ...................................................................54 Alarm Message Element ................................................................54 Alarm Channel Value Element ............................................................55 Importing a DBC file ..................................................................56 Initial Import of a DBC File ..................................................................56 Subsequent Imports of a DBC File ............
Introduction 5 Introduction Display Creator is a unique application used to design and create custom display configurations for MoTeC's D series displays and C series display loggers. It has versatile and powerful graphical creation functions that allow the configuration of all display elements. Many of the functions are self explanatory, and onscreen assistance is provided. See the following three topics before starting a Display Creator project.
About CAN Signals and Channels About CAN Signals and Channels ☛ Messages, signals and channels can be manually created and set up, or automatically added by importing the DBC file created in Dash Manager when a Dash/Logger configuration is saved. See Importing a DBC file Not all signals need to be assigned to channels. Unassigned signals are not received.
How to Create a Display Configuration 7 How to Create a Display Configuration To create a functioning display the following tasks are required. ☛ The tasks, sequence and dependencies shown below are provided to indicate functional relationships. Pages, elements, channels etc. can be created, deleted, modified at any time, and at will. Setup It is best to define the display device and default font before performing any of the tasks below, see Settings Tab.
Functional Overview Functional Overview The process flow and functions involved in creating a display are depicted in the following diagram. Details on the use of each tab, and the elements associated with them, are provided in the relevant topic within this help file. Display Creator User Manual – MoTeC Ⓒ 2014 Published 1 July 2014 www.motec.
About Element Selection 9 About Element Selection This topic applies to selection of elements on a page. As Display Creator does this in a unique way, it is provided here as a preamble. Some of the operations used to select elements in Display Creator are unique. Such as: • Select an element from the element tree list, see Page Elements. • Click repeatedly on an element at one location on the page. This will sequentially select (drill down) each element whose boundaries encompass the cursor location.
About Alarms About Origin Points This topic applies to alignment of elements on a page. As Display Creator does this in a unique way, it is provided here as a preamble. See Page Elements for more information. Element Origin Points All elements that can be included in a display have an origin point, this point is used for the alignment of elements.
Display Creator Tabs 11 Display Creator Tabs Display Creator contains six tabs required to create a display configuration. That is, • • • • • • Settings Communications Channels & Functions Alarms Pages Images Settings Tab Defines the display or logger device for which the display configuration is being created. Changing the device will automatically resize all elements so as to fit on the device's screen. The default font used for the configuration is also specified on this tab.
Display Creator Tabs Channels & Functions Tab This tab allows manual creation of channels. These are subsequently assigned to signals. ☛ Messages, signals and channels can be automatically created for use in Display Creator by importing the DBC file created in Dash Manager when a Dash/Logger configuration is saved. See Importing a DBC file. The properties displayed for this tab vary depending on the element selected. Channel Properties Channel "name" Name Name given to the channel.
Display Creator Tabs 13 Communications Tab This tab allows manual setup of CAN messages and signals, and the assignment of channels. ☛ Messages, signals and channels can be automatically created for use in Display Creator by importing the DBC file created in Dash Manager when a Dash/Logger configuration is saved. See Importing a DBC file. The properties displayed for this tab vary depending on whether the Message or Signal element is selected, as shown in the Message Element and Signal Element examples.
Display Creator Tabs Compound Optionally, a message may contain further addressing of the signals by extending the address into the data section of the message. The location of the compound address is specified, and signals associated with this message must match the Address and the Compound ID. Compound Checkbox — Check to identify use of extended addressing. Compound ID A compound address value for associated channels. Type Used to set the format of the received value.
Display Creator Tabs 15 Location Type Used to set the format of the received value. Unsigned integer values are absolute, containing values from 0 to max for the bit length of the signal. Integer values use the two's complement format giving negative and positive values in equal proportions. Offset Length To identify the unique signal, the Offset and Length settings tell the device where to find this signal within the message, based on the order in which the data is received.
Display Creator Tabs Alarms Tab The Alarms tab is used to create any number of alarms. ☛ Although an alarm is created and its condition may become true, it will not display unless it has been assigned to an Alarm Display element, see Alarm Displays. By default, all alarms created on the Alarm tab are automatically selected to display in Alarm Display elements on the Overlay Page. Therefore, at the simplest level, all that is required to display an alarm is to create it.
Display Creator Tabs 17 Alarm Properties General Critical Checkbox — Check this to ensure the alarm displays when active. Non critical alarms may not display in some situations. Name Descriptive name given to the alarm. www.motec.
Display Creator Tabs Condition Contains the statements that specify the conditions under which the alarm becomes active. Add Use to add a condition expression. The Add Condition dialogue box displays as shown in the image above. ☛ A sequence of condition expressions can be inserted and connected by And or Or statements. Add Condition Dialogue Box Channel For selecting a display channel defined on the Channels & Functions tab.
Display Creator Tabs 19 Pages Tab The pages defined on this tab comprise the displays available for the current project. The Properties pane at the right side of the Display Creator window will change depending on what is selected. For information on management and properties of a page, see Page Management and Properties. For information on the properties of individual elements see the Page Elements topics.
Display Creator Tabs Example The example below is similar to one of the sample configurations that ships with Display Creator. For more detailed information of what is possible, see the individual element help provided in the Page Elements topics. Also, take time to study the construction of the sample configurations available. Display Creator User Manual – MoTeC Ⓒ 2014 Published 1 July 2014 www.motec.
Display Creator Tabs 21 Page Management and Properties Pages are created and managed as discreet elements. The properties of each page apply just to that page. The sections below cover managing pages, and their properties. Page Management Page management includes functions such as adding, deleting and arranging page order.
Display Creator Tabs Properties that govern the created display configuration Page '[name]' Name Descriptive name given to the page. Default is Page n, where n is an incremental sequential number used for each added page. Border Show Border checkbox — Check this so that the defined border is shown. Elements on the page can overlap and display in front of the border. Fill Colour, graduated shading using two colours, and opacity can be applied.
Display Creator Tabs 23 Overlay Page On a device, the Overlay Page is always displayed and overlays the current page. Its background is 100% transparent. By default the Overlay Page contains an Alarm Display element that has all alarms assigned (selected), see Alarms Tab and Alarm Displays. The Alarm Display element will only become visible if one of the alarms associated with it becomes active. All other elements on this page that are not part of an Alarm Display element will always be visible.
Page Elements Page Elements Elements can be added to a page, these and their specific properties are described in subsequent topics. Also, there are a number placement functions that can be applied to elements, and these are only available via the right click menu. See Right-Click Menu Element Placement Functions. It is important to understand two other aspects of element management, the origin points and the elements tree.
Page Elements 25 Selecting Elements on a Page Selecting elements on a page The various methods for selecting elements are: • Individually click an element on a page • Select a number of elements by dragging the cursor over the page to enclose a group of elements • Select an element from the element tree list, see Page Elements. • Click repeatedly on an element at one location on the page. This will sequentially select (drill down) each element whose boundaries encompass the cursor location.
Page Elements Right-Click Menu Element Placement Functions Apart from specific element properties, there are a number of element placement functions that can be applied to elements, these are only available via the right-click menu. All functions (other than Z-Order), require more than one element to be selected. The Z-Order function is only available for single element or parent element selections (child elements move with the parent). The functions are described below.
Page Elements Sizing 27 Resizes all selected elements to either the width or the height of the first selected element (this function is not available for text based elements). ☛ Resize occurs from the origin point – that is, the size is calculated from the element centre, not at a border. In these examples, the blue rectangle is the first selected element. For example, using this selection as the starting arrangement: Make same width results in Note that the text is not resized.
Spacing Page Elements Equally spaces elements, or removes spaces between elements. For example (HORIZONTAL), using this selection as the starting arrangement: Equal horizontal spacing results in Elements between the two outside elements moved to create equal spacing. Remove horizontal spacing results in Elements moved from right to left.
Page Elements 29 Elements moved from bottom to top. Rectangle Rectangle Left Space between the left margin of the page and the left border of the element in pixels. Top Space between the top margin of the page and the top border of the element in pixels. Width Width of the element in pixels. Change in dimension occurs at the right border, left border position remains static. Height Height of the element in pixels.
Page Elements Ellipse Ellipse Left Space between the left margin of the page and the left border of the element in pixels. Top Space between the top margin of the page and the top border of the element in pixels. Horizontal Diameter Horizontal width of the element in pixels. Change in dimension occurs at the right border, left border position remains static. Vertical Diameter Vertical height of the element in pixels.
Page Elements 31 Image Image Left Space between the left margin of the page and the left border of the element in pixels. Top Space between the top margin of the page and the top border of the element in pixels. Width Horizontal width of the element in pixels. Change in dimension occurs at the right border, left border position remains static. Height Vertical height of the element in pixels. Change in dimension occurs at the bottom border, top border position remains static.
Page Elements Static Text Used to display text. Text X Space between the left margin of the page and the origin point (see Element Origin Points) of the element in pixels. Y Space between the top margin of the page and the origin point of the element in pixels. Centre Text Places the origin point of the element at the centre of the page. Text to display in the element. Appearance Properties to set font type, size, style and colour characteristics.
Page Elements 33 Channel Value This element is used to display a selected channel value. Text X Space between the left margin of the page and the origin point (see Element Origin Points) of the element in pixels. Y Space between the top margin of the page and the origin point of the element in pixels. Centre Places the origin point of the element at the centre of the page. Channel Channel Used to select the channel whose value is to display in the element. Format The format the value is to take.
Page Elements Horizontal Bar Graph A Horizontal Bar Graph element graphically displays the value of the assigned channel as it varies. This element is ideal for purposes such as a Gain/Loss bar. Note the following: • Each graphical component of the bar graph (as shown in the elements tree), including tick marks and text values can be formatted and moved anywhere on (or off) the page. • The bar graph bar is the component of the bar graph to which the input channel is assigned.
Page Elements 35 ☛ The Configure Ticks window displays the current configuration, but not any non-linear adjustments. It will always adjust the configuration to a linear progression based on the values and configuration selected. Major Divisions Set the number of major divisions (does not include the initial position) and the start and end values. Ten would give 11 positions including the start. Tick Text The ticks can be same as the value or different.
Page Elements This configuration gives the result shown at right. Display Creator User Manual – MoTeC Ⓒ 2014 Published 1 July 2014 www.motec.
Page Elements 37 Creating a Non-Linear Progression To create a non-linear progression, such as in the example below: 1. Create an appropriate linear horizontal bar graph. 2. For each required major division: (a) Select the tick mark. (b) In the Properties pane, change the Value to what is required. (c) Select the tick mark text. (d) In the Properties pane, change the Text to what is required. For example: ☛ The Configure Ticks window only defines linear progressions.
Page Elements Adding Sweeps Sweep elements are bracketed sections of the bar graph that can be used as visual cues. In the example below, four sweeps are added with varying properties such as no fill, and various offset, Z-Order and width settings. To include a sweep on a bar graph: 1. Select the bar graph. 2. From the right-click menu, select Insert > New Sweep. ☛ The sweep will not display on the bar graph unless a start and end value is entered.
Page Elements 39 Vertical Bar Graph A Vertical Bar Graph element graphically displays the value of the assigned channel as it varies. This element is ideal for purposes such as a temperature or pressure bar. Note the following: • Each graphical component of the bar graph (as shown in the elements tree), including tick marks and text values can be formatted and moved anywhere on (or off) the page. • The bar graph bar is the component of the bar graph to which the input channel is assigned.
Page Elements Configuring Ticks When a bar graph is first created a Configure Ticks window displays, this can also be displayed later by selecting the Configure Ticks button on the Properties pane. ☛ The Configure Ticks window displays the current configuration, but not any non-linear adjustments. It will always adjust the configuration to a linear progression based on the values and configuration selected.
Page Elements 41 Create Representative Tick Mark Text Sometimes the tick mark text is best shown as text that is representative of the actual value, such as on a tachometer (which is the displayed text x1000). The method for doing this is shown in the following example. This configuration gives the result shown at right. This configuration gives the result shown at right. www.motec.
Page Elements Creating a Non-Linear Progression To create a non-linear progression, such as in the example below: 1. Create an appropriate linear horizontal bar graph. 2. For each required major division: (a) Select the tick mark. (b) In the Properties pane, change the Value to what is required. (c) Select the tick mark text. (d) In the Properties pane, change the Text to what is required. For example ☛ The Configure Ticks window only defines linear progressions.
Page Elements 43 Adding Sweeps Sweep elements are bracketed sections of the bar graph that can be used as visual cues. In the example below, four sweeps are added with varying properties such as no fill, and various offset, Z-Order and width settings. To include a sweep on a bar graph: 1. Select the bar graph. 2. From the right-click menu, select Insert > New Sweep. ☛ The sweep will not display on the bar graph unless a start and end value is entered.
Page Elements Dial A Dial element graphically displays the value of the assigned channel as it varies. Note the following: • Each graphical component of the dial (as shown in the elements tree), including tick marks and text values can be formatted and moved anywhere on (or off) the page. • The pointer is the component of the dial to which the input channel is assigned. • Start and end values, start and end angles, major and minor divisions, and tick text, can all be configured.
Page Elements 45 ☛ The Configure Ticks window displays the current configuration, but not any non-linear adjustments. It will always adjust the configuration to a linear progression based on the values and configuration selected. Dial Face Sets the start and end of the dial relative to the zero angle position. Major Divisions Set the number of major divisions (does not include the initial position) and the start and end values. Ten would give 11 positions including the start.
Page Elements Create Representative Tick Mark Text Sometimes the tick mark text is best shown as text that is representative of the actual value, such as on a tachometer (which is the displayed text x1000). The method for doing this is shown in the following example. This configuration gives the result shown at right. This configuration gives the result shown at right. Display Creator User Manual – MoTeC Ⓒ 2014 Published 1 July 2014 www.motec.
Page Elements 47 Creating a Non-Linear Progression To create a non-linear progression, such as in the example below: 1. Create an appropriate linear dial. 2. For each required major division: (a) Select the tick mark. (b) In the Properties pane, change the Value to what is required. (c) Select the tick mark text. (d) In the Properties pane, change the Text to what is required. For example: ☛ The Configure Ticks window only defines linear progressions.
Page Elements Adding Sweeps Sweep elements are bracketed sections of the dial that can be used as visual cues. In the example below, three sweeps are added with varying properties such as no fill, and various radius and width settings. To include a sweep on a dial: 1. Select the dial. 2. From the right-click menu, select Insert > New Sweep. ☛ The sweep will not display on the dial unless a start and end value is entered.
Page Elements 49 Switch A Switch element controls the contents of an area of the page that is bounded by the Switch. The Switch element can contain any element except for another Switch or an Alarm Display. Each element in the Switch occupies the complete area of the Switch. Elements can only be added to a Switch by selecting it, and using the right-click menu, or by selecting Add in the Switch Navigation pane on the left.
Page Elements Example of a Switch This is an example of a fuel indicator switch that will display one of two icons based on the fuel level. With the Switch selected Two image elements are included in the Switch (as shown in the Switch list and Elements Tree), one of which is a low fuel image. Display Creator User Manual – MoTeC Ⓒ 2014 Published 1 July 2014 www.motec.
Page Elements 51 With the low fuel image element selected The condition of this element becomes true if the channel Fluid Level is <= 25, as seen in the Switch Element pane. www.motec.
Page Elements Alarm Displays An Alarm Display element is a parent or group element. Its child elements are used to display the alarm information (alarms are defined on the Alarm tab) when they become active. See Alarms Tab. More than one Alarm Display element can be included on the Overlay Page and on any other page, see Pages Tab. This allows flexibility in the presentation of different alarms. An Alarm Display element can have any number of the alarms from the Alarm tab associated with it.
Page Elements 53 Alarm Display Left Space between the left margin of the page and the left border of the element display in pixels. Top Space between the top margin of the page and the top border of the element in pixels. Width Horizontal width of the element in pixels. Change in dimension occurs at the right border, left border position remains static. Height Vertical height of the element in pixels. Change in dimension occurs at the bottom border, top border position remains static.
Page Elements Alarm Icon Element The Alarm Icon element is a child of the Alarm Display element. Alarm Icon Left Space between the left margin of the page and the left border of the element in pixels. Top Space between the top margin of the page and the top border of the element in pixels. Width Width of the element in pixels. Change in dimension occurs at the right border, left border position remains static. Height Height of the element in pixels.
Page Elements 55 Alarm Channel Value Element The Alarm Channel Value element is a child of the Alarm Display element. Alarm Channel Value X Space between the left margin of the Alarm Display and the origin point (see Element Origin Points) of the element in pixels. Y Space between the top margin of the Alarm Display and the origin point of the element in pixels. Centre Places the origin point of the element at the centre of the Alarm Display.
Importing a DBC file Importing a DBC file A DBC file is created in Dash Manager when a Dash/Logger configuration is saved. The DBC file is used to import Dash Manager messages, signals and alarms to Display Creator, and eliminates the need to manually setup these in Display Creator. The import facilitates: • Automatic setup of messages, signals and channels in Display Creator.
Importing a DBC file 57 On completion of the import, the Communications and Channel & Functions tab are populated with the selections made. ☛ In the Communications tab, a folder is created that contains the imported communications configuration. It is given a default name, such as DBC File 1, as shown in the example below. This can be changed in the Properties pane. Any subsequent imports are given their own folder. www.motec.
Importing a DBC file Subsequent Imports of a DBC File Become familiar with the initial import of a DBC file before reading about a subsequent import, see Initial Import of a DBC File. ☛ Importing will import all signals and associated messages selected and will place them in a separate folder. Depending on what the user may want to achieve, using the compare and update function may be more appropriate, see Updating a DBC File Import.
Importing a DBC file 59 Communications tab after import www.motec.
Importing a DBC file Updating a DBC File Import Once a DBC file has been imported it is possible to do a compare between an updated Dash Manager configuration and the Display Creator configuration. The icons used to indicate differences are shown in the following table. Icon Meaning The message is not the same, it contains any number of differences to signals. The signal exists in Display Creator but has been removed from the Dash Manager configuration.
Importing a DBC file 61 1. An initial import is done. 2. Changes are made to the Dash Manager configuration that results in a modified DMC file. 3. From the Communications tab in Display Creator, the DBC file and Update button are selected. 4. The Import a DBC File window displays showing the differences between the Dash Manager and Display Creator configurations. 5. Selections are made and the DBC file is imported. ☛ The Display Creator DBC file is totally replaced with the selections made.
Importing a DBC file Communications tab after update Display Creator User Manual – MoTeC Ⓒ 2014 Published 1 July 2014 www.motec.
Importing a DBC file 63 Imported DBC File Alarms When a Dash Manger configuration is imported, alarm signals can be selected for inclusion, with corresponding channels automatically set up. ☛ The import automatically creates a single alarm in Display Creator on the Alarms tab that is shared by all the alarms that were defined in Dash Manager. This alarm is automatically assigned to the Alarm Display element on the Overlay Page.
Importing a DBC file The imported alarm is automatically selected to display in the Alarm Display element on the Overlay Page. All the alarms defined in Dash Manager (shown below) will use the same imported alarm as shown in the previous images. Display Creator User Manual – MoTeC Ⓒ 2014 Published 1 July 2014 www.motec.
Configure Device 65 Project Validation A display configuration cannot be sent to the device if it is not valid, for this reason, check the validation before sending. Use the Device > Validate Project... menu to validate the project configuration. If the validation fails, the issues that caused failure are listed in the Project Validation Messages pane. Resolve the issues and try again. Configure Device Use Device > Configure Device... menu or the Configure Device button.
Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Channel values are not displaying on the display "C Series" products require an enable to receive files created in Display Creator. If you have accidentally sent a file to the display without the enable you will need to do the following in Dash Manager. 1. Select the Online > Update Device Firmware menu option. 2. Select the Online > Dash Options (Upgrades) menu option to purchase the enable.
