Categories of ActiveX Controls (Dials & Gauges Blockset)

Dials & Gauges Blockset

Linear Gauges

The Linear Gauges library contains controls that show their input values graphically along a linear scale. Blocks in the library differ from each other in their numerical ranges and in their use of pointers, numerical labels, text captions, and tick marks.

Customizing Linear Gauges

This section describes how to customize linear gauges by making changes that are specific to the Linear Gauges library. For changes that apply to multiple categories of blocks, see these sections:

The table below lists some common customizations involving the ActiveX Control Properties dialog box that are specific to blocks in the Linear Gauges library.

Task
Description

Change the shape or size of a pointer
On the Pointers panel, set PointerID to the ID of the pointer you want to change (0 if there is exactly one pointer). Then use the Style property to choose the shape, the Inner and Outer properties to determine the length, and the Width property to determine the thickness.

Label a pointer by displaying the corresponding number
On the Digital panel, set PointerID to the ID of the pointer you want to label and check the PointerDigital check box.

Change the appearance of a pointer label
On the Digital panel, first set PointerID to the ID of the pointer whose label you want to change. Then use Decimals to set the number of digits after the decimal point, PointerDigitalColor to set the color of the number, and FontID to refer to a previously defined font (on the Fonts panel).

Move a pointer label to a fixed position
On the Digital panel, first set PointerID to the ID of the pointer whose label you want to change. Clear the PointerDigitalAttach check box and use PointerDigitalX and PointerDigitalY to set the fixed position for the label.

Move a pointer label to a position relative to the pointer
On the Digital panel, first set PointerID to the ID of the pointer whose label you want to change. Check the PointerDigitalAttach check box. For a vertical (respectively, horizontal) linear scale, use PointerDigitalX (respectively, PointerDigitalY) to set the independent coordinate for the label.

Task	Description
Change the shape or size of a pointer	On the Pointers panel, set PointerID to the ID of the pointer you want to change (`0` if there is exactly one pointer). Then use the Style property to choose the shape, the Inner and Outer properties to determine the length, and the Width property to determine the thickness.
Label a pointer by displaying the corresponding number	On the Digital panel, set PointerID to the ID of the pointer you want to label and check the PointerDigital check box.
Change the appearance of a pointer label	On the Digital panel, first set PointerID to the ID of the pointer whose label you want to change. Then use Decimals to set the number of digits after the decimal point, PointerDigitalColor to set the color of the number, and FontID to refer to a previously defined font (on the Fonts panel).
Move a pointer label to a fixed position	On the Digital panel, first set PointerID to the ID of the pointer whose label you want to change. Clear the PointerDigitalAttach check box and use PointerDigitalX and PointerDigitalY to set the fixed position for the label.
Move a pointer label to a position relative to the pointer	On the Digital panel, first set PointerID to the ID of the pointer whose label you want to change. Check the PointerDigitalAttach check box. For a vertical (respectively, horizontal) linear scale, use PointerDigitalX (respectively, PointerDigitalY) to set the independent coordinate for the label.

Combining Multiple Pointers in One Display

To display multiple pointers on a single block, see the customizations in the table below. To learn how to control multiple pointers simultaneously, see Controlling Multiple Graphical Elements.

Task
Description

Add another pointer to the display
On the Pointers panel, increase the Pointers property. The ID of the new region is the Pointers property value minus one. To specify properties of the new pointer, set PointerID to that ID and then set the remaining properties on the dialog box panel accordingly.

Delete the most recently added pointer from the display
On the Pointers panel, decrease the Pointers property. This deletes all properties associated with the pointer, such as its color and shape.

Task	Description
Add another pointer to the display	On the Pointers panel, increase the Pointers property. The ID of the new region is the Pointers property value minus one. To specify properties of the new pointer, set PointerID to that ID and then set the remaining properties on the dialog box panel accordingly.
Delete the most recently added pointer from the display	On the Pointers panel, decrease the Pointers property. This deletes all properties associated with the pointer, such as its color and shape.

LEDs Numeric Displays