Pamaglawe · Objects

Insert images and state graphics

Place a tank and configure its dimensions. For WORD state displays, five freely chosen base images can populate 16 nibble combinations.

Help ID OBJ-IMAGE17 original screenshotsExample version 2.61.495

Choose an image

On Anlagenübersicht choose Basic objects → Image (Bild). In the project image folders open Tanks → PNG and select Tank_Senkrecht_Aus.png, the gray vertical tank shown in the screenshot. Click Open.

Start from the left object palette. Click images to enlarge.

Choose Tanks in the project image folder. Your installation paths may differ.

This exercise uses only Tank_Senkrecht_Aus.png.

Place it on the page

Click below the heading to place the image, then double-click it. X and Y are page coordinates, not screen coordinates; use 50/100 for this example.

Configure properties

Use name Tank_01, dimensions 200 × 200 pixels, rotation 0, opacity 100, Proportional enabled and current test state Off. Image Off contains Tank_Senkrecht_Aus.png; leave the other images, text, extra label and process assignment empty. Proportional preserves aspect ratio; transparent PNG margins can make the visible contour smaller than its object bounds. Gray or a filename containing Aus does not prove a real machine is off: this first example is a static image.

The inserted image before renaming it Tank_01. The extra state and process fields are not needed for this exercise.

Assign 16 WORD states from five images

Insert Pumpen → PNG → Pumpe_Dosier_Aus.png. In its properties assign five fields: Off=Pumpe_Dosier_Aus.png (0), On=Pumpe_Dosier_An.png (1), Manual=Pumpe_Dosier_Hand.png (2), Fault=Pumpe_Dosier_Stoerung.png (4), Maintenance=Pumpe_Dosier_Wartung.png (8). Image content, colors and filenames do not determine the assignment; the chosen fields do. Classic states compare a process value directly with these values. For combined states, assign a status WORD, open WORD state images (16 states) and select Status-WORD / Nibble.

Nibble 1 uses bits 0–3; nibble 2 uses 4–7. Within a nibble, bit 0 is running, bit 1 manual, bit 2 fault, bit 3 maintenance. Automatically assign image family replaces the 16 cards using the five current fields: 0 Off; 1 On; 2–3 Manual; 4–7 Fault; 8–11 Maintenance; 12–15 Fault. Base-image priority is Fault, then Maintenance, Manual and On/Off. Separate status signs show every active bit. Enable separate/upright status signs to rotate the base image while keeping the signs readable.

If a base image is missing, fix its property field before assigning again.

Start again with the basic Image object (Bild).

The gray dosing pump has been placed and selected for editing.

Immediately after insertion: the off image is present; the other four base images are still empty.

All five base images are assigned. Other colors, motifs and filenames are also allowed.

All sixteen nibble states use the five base images from the previous dialog. No real status WORD is assigned in this image.

The base image is rotated while the separately drawn status symbols remain upright.

Technical and realistic image groups

The additional images are stored in the project’s Bilder folder under the relevant categories, such as Pumpen/PNG, Ventile/PNG and Tanks/PNG. Filenames starting with Technisch_ identify schematic symbols; Realistisch_ identifies the separate realistic industrial views. Select PNG files for image previews. Existing image groups remain usable. The old Z00–Z15 files are not required for the new tank demo; WORD state mapping still supports 16 values. Pump images cover off, on, manual, fault and maintenance states. Draw and animate connecting pipes separately using lines or polylines.

Move: image movement via X/Y variables

An image can move in play mode using two variables. Open its properties and select Image movement below the state-image rows, between WORD state images and Select area.

Create dedicated numeric symbols in the PLC table, for example Car_X and Car_Y. Use a signed data type for negative offsets.
Enable Movement via variables and select the X/Y symbols. Either axis can also use No variable.
Apply and save the project. In play mode, change the values through value inputs or the local V-PLC.

Values are pixel offsets from the saved editor position: positive X moves right, negative X left; positive Y moves down, negative Y up. X = 120 and Y = −35 moves the image 120 pixels right and 35 pixels up. An axis without a valid numeric value uses offset 0. Returning to the editor restores the original position.

In the default offset mode, the V-PLC must update position values cyclically for continuous movement. For automatic travel to a target, enable the optional target mode described below. The image-state variable remains independent. The demonstration cars and ambulance still use dedicated demo logic; they are not automatically converted to this feature.

Source → target: move and orient automatically

Also enable Move to target and orient automatically. The X/Y variables now specify the target as offsets from the editor position. The source is initially the saved editor position, then always the position currently reached. The editor rotation is preserved; in play mode target movement calculates the heading.

Bind target X and Y to dedicated numeric PLC symbols. An unbound target axis uses offset 0. Use signed types for targets to the left of or above the editor position.
Set Speed (pixels/s), for example 100. Optionally bind a speed variable; it replaces the fixed value. Speed 0 pauses movement; a positive value resumes it.
For Image front before rotation, select the direction the front points in the original image file: up, right, down or left. Do not include the rotation already configured in the editor.
Apply, save and press F5. The image faces the target, travels in a straight line and stops exactly there. The V-PLC does not need to increment the target cyclically.

Enter a different target during movement: the image continues from its current position without jumping and immediately adjusts its heading. When stationary it retains the last heading. Example: editor position 1300/160 plus target offset 100/200 gives target position 1400/360. Then set target offset 0/0 to travel back to the editor position.

A missing bound variable or invalid numeric value pauses target movement. There is no acceleration, turning radius or collision detection. Target movement runs in play mode independently of the V-PLC Start/Pause controls; set the speed variable to 0 to stop it. Returning to the editor restores position and rotation. Existing demo cars are not automatically converted.

Example: move a car using two variables

The following original screenshots show the German interface in the original direct-offset mode. Target mode is an additional option in the current dialog. The X/Y variables specify pixel offsets, not absolute page coordinates. At offset 0/0 the image stays at its saved editor position, regardless of its rotation.

1. The green car selected as an image object in the editor.

2. In the image properties, the “Bildbewegung” (Image movement) button opens the position-variable settings.

3. Dedicated position symbols in the PLC table: Auto_Move_Y at address 41006 and Auto_Move_X at address 41007. The UINT16 values shown allow nonnegative offsets; use a signed data type for negative offsets.

4. Enable “Bewegung über Variablen” (Movement via variables): assign Auto_Move_X to the X offset and Auto_Move_Y to the Y offset, then apply.

5. Starting position in edit mode: the selection border and resize handle are visible. Move X and Move Y both display 0.00. The saved editor position remains the reference point for movement in play mode.

6. Play mode: X = 10 and Y = 150 move the car 10 pixels right and 150 pixels down from its saved editor position. The input labels now distinguish Move X Soll and Move Y Soll.

To test: apply the settings, switch to play mode with F5 and change one position variable at a time. An X offset of 50 moves the image 50 pixels to the right; a Y offset of 50 moves it 50 pixels down. Return both offsets to 0 to restore the reference position.

Apply and save

Apply properties, inspect placement and press Ctrl+S. Back up the entire project folder including images; a .jvz file alone does not replace its graphics. Next add a level bar.

The current overview shows the tank, controls, alarm display and added dosing pump.

LOCK / UNLOCK

Lock finished objects with Ctrl+L. Ctrl+Shift+L unlocks all objects on the current page. Learn about locking, the padlock badge and editing overlapping objects.

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.

Common questions

A small-looking tank may have transparent margins; check bounds and retain proportional scaling. For missing graphics, check the Image Off path, file existence, selected page and opacity. A static image does not change color until process and state assignments are configured. Add a separate label for a freely positioned caption.