CyFlex Operator Display: Introduction

Overview

The CyFlex^® Operator Display gives users of CyFlex test systems a powerful way to control the test operations and monitor the relevant measurements, states, and performance parameters.  It gives operators all of these functions in screens that are fully configurable.  The Operator Display or “OD” lets you switch between multiple display screens, each with a graphical and/or tabular layout that you can tailor to the testing requirements and preferences.

OD screens can be built to contain fields for input and output displays and controls. The OD screens can contain multiple tabs, allowing individual tabs to contain different areas of information. The widgets can be CyFlex Variable values with labels and optional units, arranged in rows and columns.  They can be a variety of graphical displays, including dials, bars, sliders, toggle switches, and plots.  Collections of these fields can be organized into “groups”, rectangular areas of the screen holding display fields that you want to associate together.

The instructions for showing which Variables, display types, and OD screens can be saved in Configuration files and reloaded as desired.  You can save and load different configurations for the various test profiles which they follow.

Features

The Operator Display screen can be configured to display a wide variety of information and continuously update it.  This sample screen shows

· a virtual dashboard of gauges and LED indicators

· multiple groups of related CyFlex Variables by label and value

· a row of labeled screen tabs at screen top left

· a pair of stripcharts

· a command line for entering CyFlex text commands

· strings that describe the current GP Test.

Terminology

The following terms should be helpful in discussing what Operator Display can do and how it works. Refer to the annotated drawing below to identify them in the Operator Display Main Window.

· Main Window – the complete window that appears when the application starts

· Configuration – the display settings that determine which CyFlex data is displayed, in which screen location, and in which format

· Menu Bar – the standard pull-down menus common to graphical interfaces for high-level functions, e.g. open, save, save as, exit, toolbar setup, select variables, help

· Toolbar – the optional row of labeled buttons that users can assign to run CyFlex or Linux commands

· Tab Row – the row of labeled tabs to switch among display areas.  Each tab is the entry point for a rectangular display area with its own configurable layout.  Click any tab to display its portion of the screen

· Display Area – a rectangular portion of the Operator Display screen configured to hold any of the standard Groups or Fields

· Tab Display Area – the Display Area for a single tab. 

· Field – the display area for a single CyFlex Variable, either text or graphics

· Display – a Field which is used only for display output and no user input

· Control – a Field which is used for user input, either as text entry or graphical simulation of hardware controls, e.g. knob, button, dial

· Widget – the graphical element in a Field that shows the image of a Display or Control, e.g. knob, dial, text input

· Group – a rectangular display area comprised of a set of Fields, typically in some logical grouping, arranged in rows and columns with a common background color

· Command Line – a single text field and button that let you enter a CyFlex text command and then press the button to execute it

· String – a single line of text for display only

Operation

Starting and Stopping

How to Start the Operator Display Program

Operator Display can be started from the command prompt in a Linux shell or added to the CyFlex go script:

[user@cmx0nn directory]$ runqtui spec.ui

where the “spec.ui” argument is the name of a “specs” or configuration file, described below.  Users may choose the “specs” portion of the filename, while the “.ui” file extension is standard for Operator Display.

The Operator Display window itself behaves like any other Linux window.  It may be maximized, minimized, or closed with the standard buttons in the top right corner of the frame. 

How to Stop the Operator Display Program

The program can be stopped any one of several ways:

1.    Close - the top right window Close button

2.    Menu - in the top left Menu Bar: File -> Exit

3.    Keyboard - from the keyboard: Ctrl-q

Upon exit of the program, the user will be be prompted to save the configuration changes.

Locking Variable Selection

The runqtui program has arguments that determine whether or not the Operator is permitted to change the CyFlex Variable selected for each Field.  This “LockedVariable” property is built into the graphical widget of each Field.  They may be enabled or disabled collectively, depending on the command arguments:

Saving Configurations

The current configuration can be saved to the current specs.ui file or a different file and path using the File > Save or File> Save As… entries in the Menu Bar, respectively:

·         File -> Save saves the current configuration immediately

·         File -> Save As… saves the current configuration to the file and path selected in the popup Save UI File dialog.

The runqtui program has additional arguments to assign and limit saving the current configuration to a specs.ui file:

Menu Bar

Once the program starts with a given configuration, there is minimal interaction required.  However, users can perform several standard functions from the pulldown menus in the Menu Bar:

File

· Open – open and load an Operator Display configuration file

· Save – save the current Operator Display configuration

· Save As – save the current Operator Display configuration to a selected file

· Exit – stop the program and close its window

Tools

· Toolbar Setup – display the Toolbar Setup dialog to create and edit the Toolbar

The Toolbar is an optional row of labeled buttons shown below the Menu Bar.  Users may click the Toolbar buttons to run CyFlex or Linux commands that have been assigned in the Toolbar Setup dialog.   Each row within the Toolbar Setup dialog corresponds to properties for one command button. The following is a list of Toolbar button properties that can be set:

• Label – Label shown on the Toolbar button

• Icon – icon image for the Toolbar button

• Command – command to execute

• ToolTip – Text to display on mouse hovering of Toolbar button

• Wait – when True, the user is not allowed to execute the button again until the command has been completed. The button will be disabled until the command is returned.

• Output – Not used

· Select Variables – display the Variable Selection dialog to change the CyFlex Variable in a Field: open a list of Variables and drag your selection to the Field

Help

· Help Contents  F1 – open the CyFlex Help Browser for Operator Display

· About – display the About panel for the CyFlex Operator Display

· About Qt – display the About panel for Qt

Displays and Controls

The Operator Display screen displays the standard CyFlex layout of data Fields as text and/or graphics.  The Fields are organized in rows and columns with related items grouped together for convenience.  Each Field is either a “Display” (output) or “Control” (input), or both.  They range in complexity from a simple button to a full-featured stripchart with realtime graphics.

An additional “Screen Tabs” display is available for multiple panels.  It includes a row of tabs at the top margin for selecting one among many screen tabs to display.  Screen Tabs are not required, but are quite versatile; they can show a large number of fields in a relatively small area by successive tabbing.

Screens can be configured to include Groups and Display and Control Fields in virtually any arrangement.  The Qt Designer utility (described separately) automates this process in a drag-and-drop service.  Different configurations can be saved or loaded as specs files for different operating environments. 

How to changed Properties of the Display and Control Fields

• Right-click on a Display or Control Field and select the Edit Properties context menu.

• A Description of the editable Properties for the Display and Control fields is mentioned below.

How to Change the CyFlex Variable Assigned to Display and Control Fields

• Right-click on a Display or Control Field and select the Change Variable context menu.

• A Variable Selection dialog will appear

• 
  Within the Group drop down, select the type of variables to be listed within the Variable drop down.

• Within the Variable drop down, select the CyFlex variable name to use within the Display or Control Field.

• Within the SubVariable drop down, select the subvariable component of a Statistical or Composite variable

How to Change Units for Display and Control Fields

• Right-click on a Display or Control Field and select the Change Units context menu.

• A Enter Units dialog will appear

• 
  Within the Units drop down, select the units the variable is to be displayed within the Field as

Note: Selecting Change Units does not change the CyFlex Variable units – it only changes the units type the variable is displayed in

How to Copy and Paste CyFlex Variable Names between Display and Control Fields

• Right-click on a Display or Control Field and select the Copy Variable Name context menu.

• Next, right-click on a different Display or Control Field and select the Paste Variable Name context menu.

How to Disable Display and Control Fields

• Right-click on a Display or Control Field and select the Disable Widget context menu.

Note: Selecting Disable Widget just dissociates a CyFlex Variable from the Display or Control Field

How to Change the Variable Value within the Display and Control Fields where Applicable

• Double-click on the value to display the “Enter New Value” dialog

  

• Enter the text and click OK to set the new value

Displays

1.    Group – a rectangular area to group related Display and/or Control Fields in rows and columns.  Adjacent groups can be differentiated easily with contrasting background colors.  Groups can be arranged on the screen in contiguous tiles to maximize the data display.

• To edit the properties of a Group, right-click within the group box and select the Edit Properties context menu.

Edit Properties – displays the Edit Properties dialog containing a list of property options that can be changed.

The following is description of the properties that can be changed for the Group field:

• title – string containing the title of the Group field

• grpFont – font used within the Group field and all additional fields within the Group

• gBackColor – background color of Group field

• textColor – text color of Group field

• FileName – the configuration file of the quick display component shown in the Group field

• SimpleValueOrientation – orientation of Value fields displayed within the quick display component shown in the Group field

Edit Display – displays a Quick Display configuration dialog for setting up a quick display component within the Group field

See the Quick Display section for information on how the configuration dialog is used.

2.    Value – a text Display to output a CyFlex Real, Integer, Logical or Statistical Variable.   The Field includes the Variable label, text value and Variable units updated continuously. 

• To edit the properties of the Value field, right-click within the value widget and select the Edit Properties context menu.

Edit Properties - shows the Edit Properties dialog containing a list of property options that can be changed.

The following is a description of the properties that can be changed for the Value field:

• units – if blank, the variable value is displayed in the original units from shared memory.

  if any units type is shown, the variable value is displayed in overridden units

• name – name of CyFlex variable shown within the Value field

• nameFont – font used for the displayed variable name and units

• backColor – background color of the Value field

• valueFont – font used for the value of the variable

• sampleRate – how often the displayed value will be updated in milliseconds

• displayAlias – flag used to determine if the alias label name associated to the CyFlex Variable is displayed instead of the CyFlex Variable name

• readOnly – flag used to determine if the user is allowed to double click on the Simple Value field and change the variable value

3.    Simple Value – a text Display to output a CyFlex Real, Integer, Logical, String or Statistical Variable.  Simple Value Fields are designed to optimize screen space; they are often organized in rows and columns in a Group.

• 
  To edit properties of the Simple Value field, right-click within the Simple Value widget and select the Edit Properties context menu.

Edit Properties – shows the Edit Properties dialog containing a list of property options that can be changed.

The following is a description of the properties that can be changed for the Simple Value field:

• units - if blank, the variable value is displayed in the original units from shared memory.

  if any units type is shown, the variable value is displayed in overwritten units

• name - name of CyFlex variable shown within the Simple Value field

• valueFont – font used for the value of the variable

• sampleRate – how often the displayed value will be updated in milliseconds

• hideName – flag used to determine if the variable name should be shown

• nameFont – font used for the variable name

• hideUnits – flag used to determine if the variable units should be shown

• readOnlyString – flag used to determine if the user is allowed to change the variable value by double clicking on the Simple Value field

• displayAlias - flag used to determine if the alias label name associated to the CyFlex Variable is displayed instead of the CyFlex Variable name

• horizontal – flag used to determine if the Simple Value field is shown in horizontal orientation

• nameAlignment – when expanded, allows user to select alignment orientation of the variable name

• nameMaxWidth – max number of pixels the width of the field can be

4.    Slider – a graphical Display that emulates an analog bar display for CyFlex Real or Integer Variables.  It includes the Variable label and dynamic sliding bar with scale to indicate the current value.

• To edit the properties of the Slider field, right-click within the slider widget and select the Edit Properties context menu.

Edit Properties – shows the Edit Properties dialog containing a list of property options that can be changed.

The following is a description of the properties that can be changed for the Slider field:

• name - name of CyFlex variable shown within the Slider field

• NameFont - font used for the variable name

• sampleRate - how often the displayed value will be updated in milliseconds

• Minimum – minimum number shown within the Slider field scale

• Maximum – maximum number shown within the Slider field scale

• MajorTicks – how many number values are displayed within the scale of the Slider field – including the minimum scale number

• MinorTicks – how many marks are displayed between the number values within the scale of the Slider field

• DisplayAlias - flag used to determine if the alias label name associated to the CyFlex Variable is displayed instead of the CyFlex Variable name

• Orientation – set the orientation of the Slider to horizontal or vertical

• BarColor – color shown within the Slider field depicting the variable value

• Precision – number of decimal points shown on the scale values of the Slider field

5.    String – a text Display to output a CyFlex String Variable.  It includes the Variable label and value text string.

• To edit the properties of the String field, right-click within the string widget and select the Edit Properties context menu

Edit Properties – shows the Edit Properties dialog containing a list of property options that can be changed

The following is a description of the properties that can be changed for the String field:

• name - name of CyFlex variable shown within the String field

• nameFont - font used for the variable name

• backColor – used to set the background color of the String field

• valueFont – font used for the variable value

• sampleRate – how often the displayed value will be updated in milliseconds

• readOnlyString - flag used to determine if the user is allowed to change the variable value by double clicking on the String field

• displayAlias - flag used to determine if the alias label name associated to the CyFlex Variable is displayed instead of the CyFlex Variable name

6.    Gauge – a graphical Display to output a CyFlex Real or Integer Variables.  It is particularly useful as an indicator of dynamic behavior.  The Field includes the Variable label with optional Units.

• To edit the properties of the Gauge field, right-click within the gauge widget and select the Edit Properties context menu

Edit Properties – shows the Edit Properties dialog containing a list of property options that can be changed.

The following is a description of the properties that can be changed for the Gauge field:

• name - name of CyFlex variable shown within the Gauge field

• unitsVis – flag used to determine if the variable units are shown

• smartTicks – flag used to determine if the number of tick marks are dynamically configured when the minimum and maximum scale values are changed

• sampleRate - how often the displayed value will be updated in milliseconds

• minimum – minimum value on the scale within the Gauge field

• maximum – maximum value on the scale within the Gauge field

• precision - number of decimal points shown on the scale values of the Gauge field

• startAngle – angle that the minimum scale value is to be shown

• endAngle – angle that the maximum scale value is to be shown

• ticks – the number of Major Tick marks that are shown within the scale of the Gauge field

  Note: the ticks value can only be modified when the smartTicks property is False

• backColor – background color of the Gauge field

• borderColor – color of the area around the Gauge field

• textColor – color of the variable name

• displayAlias – flag used to determine if the alias label name associated to the CyFlex Variable is displayed instead of the CyFlex Variable name

7.    LED – a graphical Display that emulates various styles of LED lights to display the value of a CyFlex Logical Variable.  It includes the Variable label and text describing the current Variable state.

• To edit the properties of the LED field, right-click within the LED widget and select the Edit Properties contex menu.

Edit Properties – shows the Edit Properties dialog containing a list of property options that can be changed.

The following is a description of the properties that can be changed for the LED field:

• onColor – color that the LED field is displayed in when the variable is in the TRUE state – default is Green

• offColor – color that the LED field is displayed in when the variable is in the FALSE state – default is Red

• shape – shape the LED field is to appear in: Circle, Square, Triangle, Round

• name - name of CyFlex variable shown within the Gauge field

• nameFont – font used for the variable name

• unitsVis – flag used to determine if the variable units are visible

• sampleRate - how often the displayed value will be updated in milliseconds

• toolTip – text shown while mouse hovering over the LED field

• displayAlias - flag used to determine if the alias label name associated to the CyFlex Variable is displayed instead of the CyFlex Variable name

8.    Stripchart – a graphical Display that emulates an electromechnical stripchart recorder to display the values of multiple CyFlex Real or Integer Variables. It has the same display properties as the standalone Stripchart application.

• 
  To edit the properties of the Stripchart, right-click within the value widget and the Stripchart Configuration dialog will appear.

The Help Browser in Stripchart gives detailed information on its capabilities and properties.

Controls

1.    Command Line – a single text field Control in which you can enter a CyFlex command and then run it with the “Execute” button.  Click the down arrow to select from a list of previous entries.

• 
  To edit the properties of the Command Line field, right-click within the command line widget and select the Edit Properties context menu.

Edit Properties – shows the Edit Properties dialog containing a list property options that can be changed.

The following is a description of the properties that can be changed for the Command Line control:

• shortcutEnabled – flag used to determine if the key combination “Ctrl + L” should put the cursor within the drop down box of the command widget

• saveHistory – flag used to determine if a history file of commands should be created. If the flag is true, the drop down list of commands will be loaded with the last 10 history commands when the operator display is brought up

Note: It is best to only have one command line field per display

2.    Command Button – a labeled button that is pressed to execute a prescribed CyFlex command.  The command should be easily identified by the label or adjacent text.

• 
  To edit the properties of the Command Button field, right-click within the command button widget and select the Edit Properties context menu.

Edit Properties – shows the Edit Properties dialog containing a list of property options that can be changed.

The following is a description of the properties that can be changed for the Command Button control.

• cmd – text containing the command that is executed when the command button is pressed

• label – text shown on the command button

• cmdFont - font used for the button text

• detatched – flag used to determine if the user is allowed to click the button again before the command is completed. If the flag is set to true, the button will be disabled until the command is returned.

3.    Pushbutton – a graphical Control that emulates various styles of on/off push buttons to set the value of a CyFlex Logical Variable.  It includes the Variable label and text describing the current Variable state.

• To edit the properties of the Pushbutton field, right-click within the push button widget and select the Edit Properties context menu.

Edit Properties – shows the Edit Properties dialog containing a list of property options that can be changed.

The following is a description of the properties that can be changed for the Pushbutton field:

• btnType – changes the shape of the pushbutton: Beryl, BerylSquare, MetallicBrush

• name – name of the CyFlex variable shown within the Pushbutton field

• nameFont – font used within the pushbutton field for the variable name and variable state

• sampleRate - how often the displayed value will be updated in milliseconds

• toggleType – how the pushbutton is how to function

  • Toggle – toggles the variable value from on to off or off to on until the push button is pressed again

  • Momentary – toggles the variable value from on to off or off to on for a moment

• enableVariableName – variable name that allows the Pushbutton to be pressed when it is true

• toolTip – text shown while mouse hovering over the Pushbutton field

• displayAlias - flag used to determine if the alias label name associated to the CyFlex Variable is displayed instead of the CyFlex Variable name

4.    Toggle Buttons – a graphical Control that emulates various styles of on/off toggle buttons to set the value of a CyFlex Logical Variable.  It includes the Variable label and text describing the current Variable state.

• To edit properties of the Toggle Button field, right-click within the toggle button widget and select the Edit Properties context menu.

Edit Properties – shows the Edit Properties dialog containing a list of property options that can be changed.

The following is a description of the properties that can be changed for the Toggle Button field:

• btnType – changes the shape of the toggle button: Beryl, BerylSquare

• name – name of the CyFlex variable shown within the Toggle Button field

• nameFont - font used within the toggle button field for the variable name and variable state

• sampleRate - how often the displayed value will be updated in milliseconds

• enableVariableName - variable name that allows the Toggle Button to be pressed when it is true

• toolTip - text shown while mouse hovering over the Toggle Button field

• displayAlias - flag used to determine if the alias label name associated to the CyFlex Variable is displayed instead of the CyFlex Variable name

Quick Display

Quick Display is both a standalone CyFlex display application and an embedded display in Operator Display.  It gives you the ability to quickly create a display of rows and columns of Simple Value Fields.  The resulting display can be embedded in a Group box in Operator Display.

Standalone

To configure a “standalone” Quick Display, i.e. in a separate window, run the application on the command line:

[user@cmx0nn directory]$  quick_display &

Starting with a blank array of numbered rows and columns, you can drag CyFlex Variables by name from the list provided on the left side of the dialog to the array location of choice on the right side of the dialog.  The list supports a name filter in the Filter field.  Current Variable properties are preserved but may be changed in Operator Display in their Edit Properties dialog.

Use the Rows & Columns counter fields to add new rows or columns or remove rows or right columns.

When the array is populated as desired, click the OK button and then save the configuration to a file in the Select File dialog.  The default directory is /specs/qt/.  Quick Display will write two files with the selected name, one with a .ui extension for the standalone version and .qdl for the embedded version in Operator Display.

In Operator Display

The same technique used to create a standalone Quick Display can be used to embed a Quick Display in Operator Display.  While the process uses Qt Designer and will not be covered fully here, it is reasonably straightforward in practice.

1.    In Qt Designer, add a Group box to your Operator Display specs

2.    Run Operator Display and open the specs file in the Open UI File dialog from File > Open

3.    Right-click on the new Group and choose Edit Display in the popup menu to launch the same Quick Display builder screen above

4.    Drag in the Variables to the locations you want.  Remove any blank rows and columns with the integer counters as needed

5.    Click OK and save the specs in the Select File dialog

Your Quick Display selections will be embedded in the Group box in Operator Display.  The box may be resized or moved in Qt Designer as desired.

    Sample Screens

Several sample Operator Display screenshots are shown here to indicate the capabilities of displays available.

1.    Fuel screen tab

This screen is a standard layout for a Fuel screen tab, including a set of text displays with a Command Line input and two Stripcharts at right.  The text displays are Simple Value Fields in Group boxes.  A column of Buttons indicates the current Fuel System Mode.  String Variables of interest are also shown.

2.    Main Display screen tab

This screen is the same as above with the Main Display screen tab shown.  It features a dashboard style row of Gauges and a column of LED indicators with a Value Field for the throttle command [%].

3.    Startup Display screen tab

This screen is the same Operator Display configuration with the Startup Display screen tab shown.  It includes Group rows of LED indicators for CyFlex Logical Variables associated with Digital Inputs and Digital Outputs.  The screen might be used during startup of the test article, after which the user can quickly switch to another screen tab.

    Operator Display Designer

This screen is a sample of Qt Designer, the user interface tool used to create and change Operator Display screens.  A User Guide for Qt Designer is available in a separate document.  The Qt Designer Manual is authored by the Qt Project and is available online.

    Future Topics