Lesson 4: Working with Graphic Objects
Objectives:
• Enhance the operator interface by adding static equipment bitmaps and geometric shapes to the display to add realism; and
• Work with graphic objects, including selecting, resizing, and layering.
Lesson 4 Overview
So far, you have established communications and have created your first tag to both read and display data values reported from equipment. In the preceding lesson, you employed the Color Fill drawing method to display the value of the tag as a bar that changes length from bottom to top as the tag's value fluctuates.
On its own, the Color Fill drawing object is not very meaningful. In this lesson, you will use one of the many static equipment graphics available in VTS to add realism and context to the tag drawing method. Because the tag is reading the level of water in a booster tank, and the Color Fill bar is representing the progression of changing water levels, it will be appropriate to place a tank bitmap on the page. When combined with the Color Fill drawing method, the tank bitmap will appear like an actual booster tank with water inside.
Estimated Time
It is estimated that Lesson 4 will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
4.1 Adding an Equipment Bitmap