Desktop.DASH Fancification

November 2012

Previously we covered the fundamental setup procedure to get your Desktop.DASH up and running.

Home Desktop.DASH

In this section we'll look at a couple of features that enable you to customize your dashboard appearance.

Background Color

You can select a color to become your dashboard background. Choose Main Menu > Dashboard > Background Color

Alternatively you can choose an image.

Background Image

You can select one single image to become your dashboard background. Choose Main Menu > Dashboard > Background Image

Background Image Loaded

Notes

Ensure that the image dimensions are NOT greater than the dimensions of your dashboard in full screen mode - as this will impact the graphics performance significantly.

A copy of your selected file will automatically be placed into the project folder.

To replace the image choose a new image.

To remove the image choose Main Menu > Dashboard > Background Image > Clear

To stretch an undersized image to fit, or tile one, choose the appropriate options under Main Menu > Dashboard > Background Image > ...

Colors & Fonts

Every dashboard control can be uniquely formatted with a particular color scheme and font.

As an example, on any dashboard control right-click and choose from Fore Color, Back Color and Font...

Transparency

New for Desktop.DASH V2 - To set any object to have transparency, set it's Back Color to "Magenta"...

A formatted control...

Formatted Display

Global Color & Font Change

To adjust the font or color of every dashboard controls follow these steps.

Choose Main Menu > Admin > Options > select the Display TAB...

Global Fonts & Colors Selector

Press the [ Fore Color ] button and choose a color.

Press the [ Fill Color ] button and choose a color.

Press the [ Select Default Font & Size ] button and choose a font and text size.

Press [Ok] when done.

Apply Global Changes

To apply color and font changes across every existing dashboard control...

Choose Main Menu > Dashboard > Reset Colors and when prompted to confirm press [Yes]

Choose Main Menu > Dashboard > Reset Fonts and when prompted to confirm press [Yes]

All new controls subsequently added will now use the selected colors and fonts also.

Controls Count Up

Desktop.DASH as a limitation of 24 controls per dashboard. To determine how many you have used choose Main Menu > Dashboard > Controls Count Up

Hide & Show Borders

Regardless of run or demo modes, if the control borders are visible it is possible to move and resize each control; although it is not possible to edit any control.

In a kiosk or concourse situation it may be desirable to disable the moving and re-sizing of controls.

To alternate the display of control borders hit F10. (This feature can also be set in the automatic start-up of a project.)

With borders hidden, controls can be blended into the background

Go Full Screen

To alternate full screen display hit F11. (Note: You may have to hit F11 a couple of times to cycle the window to the point it hides the Task Bar!)

Align To Grid

As each control is in effect a Windows Form you and can only position each one with a mouse.

With various controls roughly aligned, you can straighten them up to an invisible 10 x 10 Pixel grid by choosing Main Menu > Dashboard > Align To Grid

Edit Menu

The edit menu has standard Copy (Ctrl + C) and Paste (Ctrl + V) and Delete (DEL) options.

These do not function if the control borders are hidden! (See Hide & Show Borders note above.)

With borders visible select any control with the mouse, then use the edit menu options as required.

Most parameters for each control are copied over, but not all. Specifically, values that should be unique to the newly pasted control are not copied.

Whilst Mitsubishi FX PLC's are Certified for Marine Use ...Desktop.DASH is not waterproof!

In the image above you can see a couple of display controls (top right hand corner) mapped to U Stores.

These are Universal Stores, they are provided to display system values, like date and time, but also to provide place-holders for text messages sent via Instant Messenger.

In the next section we'll look at U Stores, UserLevel and Administration features.

Desktop.DASH U Stuff