2.16.2.1.2 Parameter element

The Parameter display element is the common component to display and edit most types of M&C parameters. Depending on the data type of the parameter (the data type is detected automatically) the parameter elements appears as textual / numeric entry field, choice box or as display field for read only parameters. In the screen editor, the parameter element is shown as a sunken rectangle.

The attributes listed below may be configured to customize a display element of this type:

• Message ID: The message ID addresses the parameter the element shall display or edit. The message ID consists of the MNC name, device name followed by a colon and the name of the parameter.ANT.11.XMIT-1.tx.on for example addresses the variable tx.on at a device named XMIT-1 at MNC.

• Label: The label text is drawn above the element.

• Privilege level: The privilege level necessary to change this parameter. The predefined screens of the software use 100. In your own screens you may set certain parameters to higher privilege levels, limiting the group of operators permitted to change the parameter.

• Use searchable dropdown list: Checking this mark changes the type of drop down list to be used with a choice parameter. Enumerated values normally are shown as a dropdown list which pops up if you click into the field and can be filtered if you start typing. You always have to select the value with the mouse click or keyboard arrows and then enter key. If the widget is configured for a height of 40 pixels or more, it appears as a scrollable list rather than as a dropdown. Checking Use searchable dropdown lis also enables the Allow free text.

• Allow free text: This is also a drop-down list as a searchable drop-down list. In addition, you do not have to select from the dropdown options, but can simply enter any text and save it with the Enter key.

• Use spin buttons: Checking this mark enables "spin buttons" for numeric entry fields. Clicking these small arrow symbols at the right edge of the entry field increases/decreases the value by a certain amount. clicking them with the right mouse button increases/decreases by a larger amount.Enabling spin buttons with automatic step size automatically enabled the "Fixed step size".

• Fixed step size: Checking this mark permits to set user defined increment values for the spin buttons. If not checked, the spin button increment is derived from the least significant digit shown in the field, the large (right mouse button) increment is ten time that.

  • Small steps: The spin button increment value to be applied with left mouse button clicks.
  • Large steps: The right mouse button spin button increment. The program assumes 10 times the small steps if the large steps field is left empty.

• Font: Font contains two options:

  • Font: The font attribute applies to the text shown in the parameter field itself. The label text is shown with the standard ("plain") font size for all font selections except the smallest one. In the latter case the label is drawn using this small font size, too.
  • Color: The color attribute of a parameter element sets the color of the label shown above the entry field. The text in the parameter field itself always is shown in the default text color of the selected look & feel. Colors may be specified by using a hexadecimal RGB notation. You may click to the color example field in order to open a color chooser dialog and select the color from there.

• Conditionally enable widget: Parameter fields may be locked to read only state unless another parameter matches a given value. For instance, changing the position of a wave guide switch may be inhibited while the carrier is switched on. Check this to activate this feature.

  • Enable ID: This field defines the ID for the enabling parameter.
  • Enable value: The value belonging to the parameter above. The actual value of the parameter

• Query before applying changes: Check this mark to make the element show a query before a parameter gets actually commanded.

  • Query text: The query text to be shown in the pop-up window. You may leave this field empty, the program uses a standard query text in this case.In the question text, placeholders may used for two values: Any occurrences of the pattern $P get replaced by the parameter name (message ID). Any occurrences of the pattern $V get replaced by the new value to set.

• Color: Checking this mark enables the variable background color feature for this screen element. Depending on the actual value of the variable addressed by color id, the element's background is set using the translation table. If the actual value of the color id variable does not match any of the table entries or if no color id is specified, the first color in the list is used to draw the element's background.The buttons Add/Set/Delete along with the value and color fields are used to edit the color translation table.

  • Color ID: The message ID of the parameter which controls the background color of this element.
  • Color: The color specification of the actually selected table entry. Clicking to this opens a color chooser dialog which lets you select/compose the the color to your needs.
  • Value: The parameter value of the actually selected table entry.
  • Bold: Draws the text bold if the parameter value matches.
  • Add: To add a new value / color pair to the list, fill the value and color fields.
  • Set: To change the color assigned to a given parameter value, first select the table entry of interest, change the color value.
  • Delete: To delete a value / color pair from the list, first select the table entry then click delete.

NOTE

• The options "use spin buttons" (automatic step size) and "use editable drop down list" internally use the same use the same property of the screen element. Hence, these options are linked in way that if you enable one of these options, the other one is selected as well. This is done to maintain compatibility to older versions of the software. This linkage means no limitation, as a parameter element never can be a numeric entry field and a choice list at the same time.
• If you enlarge the height for a choice parameter widget to more than 40 pixels, the software uses a list widget with scroll bars rather than a drop down selection box.
• If you enlarge the height for a entry field to more than 50 pixels, the software uses a multi line entry field widget. Multi line entry fields are useful only for very few types of parameters, they are not recommended for general use.