Display numbers with the LCD object
LCD renders a process value as segment digits in DEC, BIN, HEX or OCT. All four examples use the same simulation value, 42. Clicking the digits does not change the PLC value.
1. Insert LCD
In design mode choose Displays (Anzeigen) → LCD, place the object on the process page and double-click it to open its properties. The example is 200 × 72 pixels. Segment digits scale automatically, so general font size is disabled. Use the dedicated digit-color button for their color.
2. Configure conversion and number base
Open Convert PLC value → Number representation. Start with DEC, linear two-point scaling, raw 0–100, output 0–100, no unit and 0 decimal places. DEC uses conversion and decimal places. BIN, HEX and OCT use the raw PLC value rounded to an integer, with no appended unit. The dialog preview and the table simulation value are separate. Apply.
3. Add the symbol
Click Symbol → Edit table. Add a row or duplicate a suitable row and edit all relevant fields: device Modbus_Testserver, symbol Anlage_LCD, address 40012, simulation value 42, UINT16, length 1 register, Holding Register. The example connection is 127.0.0.1, port 502, unit ID 1. Duplicate Anlage_Fortschritt. Clear the copied % unit and set description LCD-Anzeige Anlage. The example validation reports eleven valid rows. Validate the table, save it and close the editor.
Use a free, appropriate address in your own project.
4. Apply the assignment
Select the prepared symbol in the communication table, check the symbol information and click Apply at the bottom right. Device, IP address, symbol, physical address, data type and register information are copied together. Apply the object properties and save the project. Read access is sufficient for this display.
5. Test 42 in four bases
In project settings select No communication driver – simulation only (Kein Kommunikationstreiber – nur Simulation). Save the symbol’s simulation value in the communication table and start test mode with F5. Since version 2.61.503, saved table values are loaded when Play starts in this mode. For each new test, leave test mode, edit and save the table value, then start Play again. No external Modbus server is needed. With a communication driver selected, the connected source supplies the value; editing a simulation value does not write to a PLC.
Begin with DEC. Between tests leave Play, change Number representation, apply both dialogs and restart. Keep the table value at 42 throughout: DEC 42, BIN 101010, HEX 2A and OCT 52. The small label names the current base.
6. Change the digit color
Leave Play, restore DEC and click Choose digit color (Ziffernfarbe wählen). Select Maroon in Text color. The preview 88.8 is a color sample, not the PLC value. Apply both dialogs, save and restart F5. The value remains 42 with the new color. Maintain sufficient contrast against the dark background.
Common questions
If 0 remains, check the assignment and saved simulation value, then restart Play. Resize the object to give automatically scaled segments more room. Binary often needs more digits: 42 requires six binary digits. Conversion and decimals affect DEC; other bases display the rounded raw integer. Select DEC again for ordinary decimal output.
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.