2 Visual Components Manuals

Introduction to Visual Components 2.3
Function
Key
Control
Key
A key configured as a function key can be assigned an alphanumeric character for key levels 1−3.
The key function is deactivated for all key levels except for 0 if at least one alphanumeric character
has been assigned. If a function key is available in several (all) key levels, then no alphanumeric
characters can be assigned to it.
A control key cannot be assigned any alphanumeric characters and is therefore always available in
all key levels. Instead of the 'Previous Picture' and 'Next Picture' control keys, alternative function
keys can be used with the picture change function. This allows additional alphanumeric characters
to be assigned to the keys.
Switch
This key cannot be assigned any alphanumeric characters.
Levels Key
4.10.5.3 Additional Settings
Additional options can be set for editing key levels in the global project settings.
4.10.5.3.1 Transmit Current Key Level
Using this setting, the key level currently set in Visual Components runtime can be evaluated in the control
application. In this way, the user is provided a way to display the current key level via the LED or the screen.
The variable can also be defined. This may be used to implement a "Numlock" key, for example.
The connected variable must be of type USINT. The variable name can be directly entered or selected by
clicking the 'Assign...' button.
4.10.5.3.2 Activate Alphanumeric Level
If this setting is selected, an automatic switch to the specified key level takes place when changing to an
alphanumeric input field (string or password). In this way, behavior from Visual Components 2.0 is copied in
which a special key level was available only for alphanumeric input. Key levels 1−3 can be controlled with this
property. As soon as switching to a string input field occurs, switching also takes place to this level.
4.10.6 Configuring and Controlling LEDs
For some display units, Visual Components or the control application can be used to control key LEDs. There
are two possibilities available for controlling LEDs.
One possibility for configuring LEDs uses Visual Components to configure the appropriate key LED in the
appropriate pictures. If this possibility does not suffice, then LEDs can also be controlled from the control
application using the LED Matrix.
Warning:
Both control possibilities cannot be combined in the current Visual Components version. If this occurs, there is
no way of predicting which output will actually be displayed on the LED!
4.10.5.3 Additional Settings 391