Categories of ActiveX Controls (Dials & Gauges Blockset)

Dials & Gauges Blockset

Angular Gauges

The Angular Gauges library contains controls that show their input value graphically along an arc of a circle. Blocks in the library differ from each other in their numerical ranges and in their use of needles, numerical labels, text captions, annular components, and tick marks.

Customizing Angular Gauges

This section describes how to customize angular gauges by making changes that are specific to the Angular 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 Angular Gauges library.

Task
Description

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

Label a needle by displaying the corresponding number
On the Digital panel, set NeedleID to the ID of the needle you want to label and check the Enabled check box.

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

Move a needle label
On the Digital panel, first set NeedleID to the ID of the needle whose label you want to change. Then use X Position and Y Position to set the fixed position for the label.

Draw an annular region along the scale
On the Annulars panel, increase the value of the Annulars property. The ID of the new region is the Annulars property value minus one. To specify properties of the new region, see the next task.

Change the appearance of an annular region
On the Annulars panel, first set AnnularID to the ID of the annular region you want to change. Use the Radius properties to control the annular region's thickness and radial position. Use the Value properties to control the portion of the scale's range that the annular region includes. Use Color to control the annular region's color.

Delete the most recently added annular region
On the Annulars panel, decrease the Annulars property. This deletes all properties associated with the region, such as its color and thickness.

Task	Description
Change the shape or size of a needle	On the Needles panel, set NeedleID to the ID of the needle you want to change (`0` if there is exactly one needle). Then use the Style property to choose the shape, and the Length and Width properties to determine the length and thickness.
Label a needle by displaying the corresponding number	On the Digital panel, set NeedleID to the ID of the needle you want to label and check the Enabled check box.
Change the appearance of a needle label	On the Digital panel, first set NeedleID to the ID of the needle whose label you want to change. Then use Decimals to set the number of digits after the decimal point, Color to set the color of the number, and FontID to refer to a previously defined font (on the Fonts panel).
Move a needle label	On the Digital panel, first set NeedleID to the ID of the needle whose label you want to change. Then use X Position and Y Position to set the fixed position for the label.
Draw an annular region along the scale	On the Annulars panel, increase the value of the Annulars property. The ID of the new region is the Annulars property value minus one. To specify properties of the new region, see the next task.
Change the appearance of an annular region	On the Annulars panel, first set AnnularID to the ID of the annular region you want to change. Use the Radius properties to control the annular region's thickness and radial position. Use the Value properties to control the portion of the scale's range that the annular region includes. Use Color to control the annular region's color.
Delete the most recently added annular region	On the Annulars panel, decrease the Annulars property. This deletes all properties associated with the region, such as its color and thickness.

Combining Multiple Needles in One Display

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

Task
Description

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

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

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

Categories of ActiveX Controls Buttons & Switches