Parameterized Page Hotboxes

If the page hotbox links to a parameterized page, the configuration dialog will show a list of those parameters.

 To supply the value for each of the page’s parameters, you may select one of:

•    Tag (If the parameter is of type tag)

The first option in the list (see diagram) will always match the parameter’s defined type. This will often be a tag, but it might be Numeric Value, Text Value…

You may only choose a data source whose type matches the defined parameter.  Also, the scaling of the data source cannot be changed here, as it can with the next option.

•    Tag Value

You can select any tag whose value can be converted to a type that matches the parameter.  If, for example, the parameter is defined as text then nearly any tag can be selected  and the value of that tag will be converted to text.

For numeric values, you will also be given the opportunity to set the Minimum and Maximum output scaling.

•    Expression

Opens the expression editor where you may enter VTS code that will produce a value that will be used for the parameter. Requires knowledge of VTS programming.

•    Parameters

Allows you to select any parameter in the current page to provide the data for the selected parameter in the target page.  See: Working with Parameters.

 

This feature is similar to, but more powerful than that of the menu editor (see: Edit the Parameter Values of a Page). Both features allow you to create multiple links to one parameterized page, each link opening that page with its own set of parameter values.

The additional feature provided by the page hotbox is that, when a page hotbox is placed on a parameterized page, parameters from that page may be specified for use as the values for the destination page’s parameters. This powerful feature allows parameter values to be communicated across pages.

 

You may leave parameters un-assigned in the page hotbox dialog. The result will be that, each and every time an operator uses this hotbox to open the page, they will need to set the data source for the parameters.