Settings – Configure the application and project

1. Which settings window is this?

Settings in the top bar opens application preferences and current-project settings. Individual page settings are opened through the page list instead.

The screenshot shows Windows Paint, the System font, automatic logout disabled, autosave every five minutes and No communication driver – simulation only. These are the example project's settings, not recommendations for every machine.

2. Image editor and startup project

Program file for image editing

Sets the image editor to use. The example mspaint.exe is Windows Paint.

Select external

Opens a program-file chooser. Assign a known, trusted editor. A path on another computer may not work on the operator's computer.

Internal image editor

Selects the internal image editor in the field. It does not immediately launch editing from this dialog. Apply the settings afterwards.

Automatically load the last project at startup

Controls whether the application loads its last-used project on the next launch. This is an application preference. Still verify which project is open before operation.

Image-editor and automatic-loading preferences are saved when Apply is used.

3. Project date and time format

Sets the global project default for date/time displays. dd.MM.yyyy HH:mm:ss produces, for example, 15.09.2026 18:30:45.

dd / MM / yyyy

Day, month and four-digit year.

HH / mm / ss

24-hour hour, minute and second.

Case matters: MM is month; mm is minute. Invalid formats are rejected on Apply. Changing the format does not change the computer clock. Objects with their own format may differ; see Date/time.

4. Default font and applying the project font

Font for new project objects selects the default. System uses the system font. Choose a font available on the eventual operator computer.

Set project font immediately applies the selected font to supported existing text objects across all project pages. Individual sizes, colours, bold/italic and alignment remain unchanged. Selecting a default and changing existing objects are separate actions.

Important: this button acts while the dialog is still open. Clicking Cancel afterwards does not undo that action. Check labels, line wrapping and available space after changing fonts, then save the project.

5. Users, logout and autosave

Manage users and Manage roles open the administration dialogs already covered in Users and roles. The summary shows account count and current login.

Automatic logout: 0 disables it; 1–1440 sets the interval in minutes. An unattended privileged session permits subsequent users to act with those permissions. See logout behaviour.

Automatic saving: 0 disables it; 1–1440 minutes are supported. The screenshot uses 5 minutes. See Autosave for details and save-state behaviour. Autosave and automatic logout are independent.

6. On-screen keyboard

Open on-screen keyboard for runtime input supports operation without a physical keyboard, such as a touch panel. Text fields receive a QWERTZ keyboard; value and PID fields receive a number pad.

This applies to runtime input and grants no additional write permissions. Test both text and numeric input in play mode and check whether the keyboard obscures needed controls.

7. Communication driver and simulators

Select exactly one communication option for the project:

Modbus TCP direct

Uses the direct Modbus TCP driver.

Siemens S7 / Moka7

Uses the S7/Moka7 driver.

OPC UA

Uses OPC UA communication.

No communication driver – simulation only

The selected option in the screenshot, with no communication driver selected. Simulated readings are not real machine measurements.

Selecting a driver does not replace correct device and signal assignments in the PLC table. Before selecting a real driver, verify the destination and addresses: play-mode actions may then write real process values.

Simulators … opens simulator management. A communication driver can also connect to a test server, so its name alone proves neither a real machine connection nor simulation. Applying driver or simulator changes may stop and prepare/restart managed simulators. Coordinate this with running tests. The subdialog will be documented separately.

8. Interface language

Selects the project's interface language. The example uses German. Apply activates the selection and updates the interface.

A different interface language does not replace review of freely entered project text. Check labels and messages in the intended language; Translator is a separate tool under Tools.

9. Apply, Cancel and permissions

Apply validates and activates the settings. A missing editor, invalid date/time format or out-of-range interval produces a message. Application preferences are saved; additionally save the project to persist changed project settings.

Cancel closes the dialog without applying its uncommitted main fields. It does not undo actions already performed separately, such as Set project font or saved user-management changes.

With user management configured, permission to edit settings, manage users or manage roles can provide access to this window. Applying general settings still requires Change project settings; user and role management have separate permissions. Access to the window does not authorise every action inside it.