Graph Properties Form

Use the Graph Properties form to define the graph period, the object atoms and appearance of the graph line, the data source to be displayed in the graph, the graph title, font properties for all graph texts and other parameters.

You can also set up the graph legend properties and chart colors, enable display of the graph toolbar and status bar as well as decide if to hide time and value labels and scale.

Signals

A graph usually contains at least one signal, which can be any object atom which contains data (LOG, BCL = Base Class files and/or Live data).

You can select up to 16 signals that can consist of any object atoms which contain data (LOG, BCL or Live data) from the following atom types:

Analog
Digital
Table
Counter

Preconditions

The project and the Definition module must be started.

Where do I find it?

To create a new graph in a separate window (Standard Graph): In top menu of the Definition module, select Graph > Create…
Existing stand-alone graph (Standard Graph):
- If open, right-click on the graph and select Properties… If not
- Select the graph in the Graph menu if it is already accessible there first. If not,
- Click Graph > Open in the top menu to open the Object Browser form. In the right pane of the Object Browser form, select the graph you want to edit. Click the Open/Select button to open the graph and the Graph Properties form.
To create a new Embedded Graph presented as part of a diagram:
- Right-click in the diagram and select New > Standard Descriptors > Embedded Graph or Embedded Graph Basic, or
- In the top menu, select Objects > Standard Descriptors > Embedded Graph or Embedded Graph Basic, or
- In the Drawing Toolbar select the Embedded Graph drawing tool .
Existing Embedded Graph: Right-click on the graph and select Properties.

Tab Overview

The Graph Properties form is identical for all types of graphs with a few exceptions as indicated in the table below. The Graph Properties form for the Embedded Graph Basic is different – see: Create and edit an Embedded Graph Basic.

For detailed information with field and button help, click the links to the How to… help pages under Designing Graphs and Trends.

Tab Page	Description
Window (Predefined Standard graph only) Create a new graph in a separate window	On this tab page you can : Enter the name and/or description of the graph Set up the graph window properties Define how the graph is displayed in the Graph menu Connect the graph to other objects Enable object-level protection for the graph
Period Define a default graph period	On this tab page you can select the graph period to display: Relative periods (hours, days, weeks, months and year back) Absolute periods (Today, Yesterday, This/last week, month, year) Custom durations (X hours, days, months back) Custom periods, where you define the start and end dates and times of the graph. It is also possible to add a user-defined Start Hour, if you select an absolute period (Yesterday, this or last week/month/year), and Start Month if you select This Year.
Signals Add signals to a graph	On this tab page on the Basic sub-tab you can: Select the signals to be displayed in the graph. Add new signals from the Object Browser form. Remove existing signals. Replace one signal with another new signal. Rearrange the display order of the signals Define the signal line color (Classic, Modern or Default) and legend text for the signal Tick off if the line should be highlighted and, in case of more signals, if some signal lines are to be hidden. Show the graph with a pattern and/or a transparent background. On the Advanced sub-tab you can: Select to display the Y-axis for the signal Define which value limits to apply to the signal signal e.g. Automatic with or without zero, limits from objects or user-defined fixed.
Chart Define chart title and legend text options	On this tab page you can: Define the title of the graph chart Select to show the graph legend and define its position Select the signal legend properties such as object/atom information, atom value and text Select the font properties for all graph texts
Options Define graph colors, user interface and other options	On this tab page you can: Define colors for the graph elements: Background color Text color Axis colors Graph grid color Display the graph toolbar Display the graph status bar The Options sub-group allows you to select if you want to show or hide e.g. axes with same value range, data points, values, value and time labels and scales.
Visibility (Embedded graphs only) Define the visibility of embedded graphs	On this tab you define visibility parameters for an embedded graph: Define when and how the graph will be shown in a diagram. If the graph is only visible under certain conditions such as states or alarm.
Set as default Define a default graph period	At the bottom of all tabs in the Graph Properties form you can: Select “Set as Default” to save current defined graph properties, which will then be pre-defined every time a new Graph Properties form is opened. Use “Set as Default” if the graphs you create share many common properties.

Tab Page

Description

Window

(Predefined Standard graph only)

Create a new graph in a separate window

On this tab page you can :

Enter the name and/or description of the graph
Set up the graph window properties
Define how the graph is displayed in the Graph menu
Connect the graph to other objects
Enable object-level protection for the graph

Period

Define a default graph period

On this tab page you can select the graph period to display:

Relative periods (hours, days, weeks, months and year back)
Absolute periods (Today, Yesterday, This/last week, month, year)
Custom durations (X hours, days, months back)
Custom periods, where you define the start and end dates and times of the graph.
It is also possible to add a user-defined Start Hour, if you select an absolute period (Yesterday, this or last week/month/year), and Start Month if you select This Year.

Signals

Add signals to a graph

On this tab page on the Basic sub-tab you can:

Select the signals to be displayed in the graph.
- Add new signals from the Object Browser form.
- Remove existing signals.
- Replace one signal with another new signal.
- Rearrange the display order of the signals
Define the signal line color (Classic, Modern or Default) and legend text for the signal
Tick off if the line should be highlighted and, in case of more signals, if some signal lines are to be hidden.
Show the graph with a pattern and/or a transparent background.

On the Advanced sub-tab you can:

Select to display the Y-axis for the signal
Define which value limits to apply to the signal signal e.g. Automatic with or without zero, limits from objects or user-defined fixed.

Chart

Define chart title and legend text options

On this tab page you can:

Define the title of the graph chart
Select to show the graph legend and define its position
Select the signal legend properties such as object/atom information, atom value and text
Select the font properties for all graph texts

Options

Define graph colors, user interface and other options

On this tab page you can:

Define colors for the graph elements:
- Background color
- Text color
- Axis colors
- Graph grid color
Display the graph toolbar
Display the graph status bar
The Options sub-group allows you to select if you want to show or hide e.g. axes with same value range, data points, values, value and time labels and scales.

Visibility

(Embedded graphs only)

Define the visibility of embedded graphs

On this tab you define visibility parameters for an embedded graph:

Define when and how the graph will be shown in a diagram.
If the graph is only visible under certain conditions such as states or alarm.

Set as default

Define a default graph period

At the bottom of all tabs in the Graph Properties form you can:

Select “Set as Default” to save current defined graph properties, which will then be pre-defined every time a new Graph Properties form is opened.

Use “Set as Default” if the graphs you create share many common properties.