Defining how users interact with graphics online

Interactions, a collection of actions configured on a graphics configuration or element, define how DeltaV Live users can interact with graphics on running displays. In Graphics Studio, you define the interactions for graphics configuration and elements through their Interaction tab in the Graphics Configuration pane. The following graphics configuration and elements support interactions:

  • Displays
  • Contextual displays
  • Layouts
  • Batch controls
  • Watch areas
  • Buttons
  • Check boxes
  • Combo boxes
  • Data links
  • Unlinked GEMs
  • GEM classes
  • Groups
  • Images
  • Radio buttons
  • Slews
  • Sliders
  • Sparklines
  • Text entries
  • Text boxes

For graphics configuration and some select elements, the Interactions tab provides events for which you can write a script that either triggers the event or is triggered when the event occurs. For example, on displays, you can write scripts for the behavior to occur when the display is opened or closed. Or, on a check box, you can write a script for what happens when the user chooses or switches to a new value. For other elements, you can create actions that define the behavior to be triggered when a user performs a specific mouse-point event on that element, such as a click or right-click. Mouse-pointer events can trigger various behaviors, such as opening a display or showing a tooltip. You can also configure an element with a drag action, which then allows DeltaV Live users to add that element to a display's watch area.

You can define multiple actions for an element as well as multiple actions for the same type of mouse-pointer event. For example, you can configure a button to open a faceplate and run a custom script when double-clicked.

Interaction regions

When at least one action is configured for an element and its Active property is True, an interaction region is active online. The interaction region defines the mouse pointer hotspot for an element. When you point your mouse inside the interaction region, it is indicated by a black border. If you have a configured action that for some reason you do not want active, set its Active property to False. Setting Active to False disables and hides the interaction region.
Note:
If the Visibility property on a graphic element is False, the Interaction Region is disabled in DeltaV Live.

The above rules apply for interaction regions on groups or GEMs when at least one action is configured for at least one element in the group or GEM. In Graphics Studio, the interaction region for a group or GEM is the bounding rectangle that encompasses all elements in the group or GEM and that are configured to be present online. Online, the interaction region automatically re-sizes based on the current size and position of all elements in the group or GEM. When actions are configured for individual elements in a group or GEM, the group or GEM's interaction region is lower, by default, in the z-order than that of its individual elements' interaction regions.

Sometimes elements may overlap on a display, creating multiple interaction regions at the position where a mouse-event occurs. If the same mouse-event is configured for interaction regions that overlap, the top–most element in the z-order performs its behavior. To prevent confusing behavior, consider moving one or more elements to a different position.