Configure a stack light
Four individually labeled segments display machine status, material requests or operating conditions. One byte switches them separately or together and optionally makes them blink. This visualization does not replace a safety-rated indicator, interlock or protective device.
1. Insert the stack light
Choose Objects → Displays → Meldeleuchte and place it on the process page. Alternatively open the large object picker with a right-click. Double-click or right-click the object to open properties.
2. Set general properties
Name identifies the object. Text / initial value does not control segments or the byte preview. Label / Visible sets an optional page caption. X/Y, width/height, rotation and opacity control placement and appearance; font size controls optional segment text. Assign one common byte via Process variable → Symbol. S7 can use BYTE; Modbus can use UINT16, with only its lower eight bits evaluated.
3. Configure the segments
Open Configure stack light. Set color and optional text for each of four segments, vertical or horizontal orientation, and whether segment 1 is top/left or bottom/right. Blink time is 250, 500 or 1000 ms. Off color and opacity (0–100 %) control inactive segments. Byte preview accepts 0–255. Defaults are red, yellow, green and blue; 500 ms; off color #26313B at 35 % opacity.
4. Assign a containing area
Attach the object to a tab, collapsible or scroll area if required. For a tab area, also select the tab. Assigned objects move with their containing area.
5. Understand the byte
Bits 0–3 switch segments on; bits 4–7 blink the corresponding segments. Segment 1: on 1, blink 16, blinking combined value 17. Segment 2: 2 + 32 = 34. Segment 3: 4 + 64 = 68. Segment 4: 8 + 128 = 136. A blink bit alone does not switch a segment on: 16 does not light segment 1; 17 makes it blink.
6. Behavior in Play mode
The display cyclically reads its assigned value and limits it to 0–255. Blinking alternates active and off appearance at the configured interval. Examples: 0 all off; 1 first segment on; 3 first and second on; 15 all steadily on; 17 first blinking; 255 all blinking.
7. Example configuration
Set segment 1 green / Betrieb for production; segment 2 yellow / Warten for waiting; segment 3 red / Störung for a fault; segment 4 blue / Hand for manual mode. To blink the red third segment, set bits 2 and 6 together: byte value 68.
Common questions
If nothing changes, check Play mode, symbol, data type, address and actual value. With Modbus, confirm that the simulator loaded the current project symbols. Blinking needs both the segment’s on bit and blink bit. Reverse ordering through the segment-1 position setting. Improve inactive visibility with Off color and opacity.
Keyboard shortcuts
Apply or close property dialogs, select objects on the canvas and leave any active text field before using an object shortcut.
- Delete — delete selection
- Deletes selected simple objects without another confirmation. Check the selection first.
- Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y — undo / redo
- Undoes or restores an available object edit. This is not a recovery mechanism for deleted pages or files.
- Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V — copy / paste
- Copies the selection and inserts an offset copy. Check names and process assignments afterward.
- Ctrl+X — cut
- Copies objects to the internal object clipboard and removes them from the page. Paste with Ctrl+V.
- Ctrl+A — select all
- Selects unlocked objects on the current page.
- Arrow keys — move precisely
- Moves the selection one pixel in the chosen direction within the page bounds.
- Shift+Arrow — next grid position
- Moves the selection in the grid direction using the page grid spacing.
- Ctrl+L / Ctrl+Shift+L — lock / unlock
- Locks the selection; Ctrl+Shift+L unlocks all locked objects on the current page.
- Esc — end editor action
- Cancels an action such as placement or clears the current selection.
- Ctrl+S — save project
- Saves applied changes. Save again after deleting, moving or copying.
The fixed global alarm area cannot be deleted or copied. Structural objects with assigned contents can ask an additional question about those contents.