2 Visual Components Manuals

Introduction to Visual Components 2.3
4.7.2 Numeric Input
Entries in a visualization application are usually made using numeric input fields. Visual Components provides a
special input field which meets nearly all of the possibilities for numeric input. If user−defined input is necessary,
this can be taken care of by using string input fields which are described in the next section (see also Text
Input).
A numeric input field is inserted in the Visual Components picture editor. After selecting the
icon (shown here to the left) from the toolbar, this menu appears. Selecting Input Numeric
switches the editor to insert mode for numeric input fields.
Any number of input fields can be inserted. The 'Properties' dialog box appears to edit the
newly inserted field once it has been placed. 'Properties' can also be opened by
double−clicking on an existing input field.
4.7.2.1 Formatting and Handling Input
This input field supports many settings and options to meet the needs of the application.
4.7.2.1.1 Format
The maximum number of digits to be displayed is set using Number of Digits. The number of decimal places to
be displayed is set using Digits After Decimal Point. These decimal places are "real" decimal places only when a
REAL variable is used. For integer variables, only one decimal point is displayed in the appropriate place. The
value is still a whole number. For a two digit decimal setting, 1725 on the controller is displayed as 17.25 in the
input field. The input of 32.68 sets the value of the connected variable to 3268.
Depending on whether decimal places are displayed, the field width corresponds to the Number of Digits. It can
be displayed as one character wider if the decimal point is used.
Leading places can be filled with zeroes if the option Display Leading Zeros is selected. By default, leading
places are filled with spaces.
4.7.2 Numeric Input 341