Display two process values as an XY position
X controls horizontal position and Y vertical position. An optional trail connects earlier positions. In this example Anlage_Sollwert supplies X and Tank_Fuellstand supplies Y; X is a process value, not a time axis.
1. Insert the XY display
In design mode choose Displays (Anzeigen) → XY-Anzeige, place the object on the process page and double-click it to open its properties. Set the title to XY-Prozesswerte and size to 579 × 492 pixels. X and Y at the top of the general properties position the whole object on the page; they are not the plotted process values.
2. Configure axes and appearance
Open Configure XY display (XY-Anzeige einstellen). Set both axes to minimum 0 and maximum 100. Leave X unit empty and enter % for Y. Set preview X/Y to 50/50 and trail length to 20. Keep a yellow current point and turquoise trail; point, trail and background colors are configurable. Preview values apply while an axis has no runtime value.
3. Assign the Y source
In the Y process value section click Symbol and choose Tank_Fuellstand. Check Modbus_Testserver, 127.0.0.1, address 40001, UINT16, Holding Register / FC 03/06 and Y unit %. Apply to return to general properties.
4. Assign the X source
In the general properties choose Process variable → Symbol → Anlage_Sollwert. It uses the same device and IP but address 40007. Apply and save.
5. Test three positions
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 X = 50 and Y = 60: the point is horizontally centered, above the middle. Next set only Anlage_Sollwert to 80; Y remains 60, so the point moves right. Finally set only Tank_Fuellstand to 20; the yellow point is now at 80/20. X and Y update separately, and each update can store a position using the values then available, including a preview for a missing axis. An additional value was entered here for demonstration purposes. Connecting lines show the stored update sequence; they do not prove physical motion along those lines.
6. Show only the current point
Leave Play, set Trail length (0–100) to 0, apply both dialogs and restart. Only the current yellow point at 80/20 remains. A positive length retains previous positions; identical consecutive positions are not appended repeatedly.
Common questions
X is assigned in general properties; Y is assigned in Configure XY display. A point at 50/50 can still be the preview: check both assignments and saved simulation values. Y [%] labels the unit but does not itself convert the value. Separate updates can create diagonal trail segments. Values beyond the axis range are shown at the corresponding chart edge; choose suitable limits.
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.