Embedded Graphic Binding Editor

Help Contents

Introduction

Embedded Graphic Bindings define the data that is passed from the container graphic to the embedded graphic.

There are two different editors for Embedded Graphic Bindings:

Structured data binding editor - the preferred editor used in normal situations.
Free format data binding editor - a fallback editor used when the embedded graphic link is invalid.

The Graphics Editor automatically chooses which editor to open based on whether the embedded graphic is valid or not.

Editing Embedded Graphic Bindings

To edit embedded graphic bindings:

Use one of the Graphic Page Selection Methods to select an embedded graphic item on the canvas.
In the Properties Window select VariableBindings property in the Data Bindings group.
Click the Browse button to open the Embedded Graphic Binding Code Editor.
Use the appropriate editor to make changes.
Press OK to confirm the changes.

Note: If there are syntax errors in the Embedded Graphic Bindings Code, the editor will not accept the changes when you press OK. Either correct the errors, or press the Cancel button to cancel the changes.

Structured Data Binding Editor

The Structured Data Binding Editor is the preferred editor for making changes to embedded graphic data bindings:

Structured embedded graphic binding editor

The left column lists the global variables declared in the Embedded Graphic. The right column shows the current data binding (if any).

You can edit a binding by clicking a row in the Bindings column. The type of click determines the edit method:

Edit Method	Comments
Left-Click	Starts an in-place edit of the binding. Use this method to enter simple data values.
Double-Click	Opens the binding in a multi-line text editor. Use this method to enter a complex expression.
Right-Click	Opens a menu to offer additional options: Choose Select tag reference... to set the binding to a single tag reference. Choose Edit data binding... to open the Data Binding Editor to set a more complex binding. Choose Cut, Copy or Paste to cut, copy and paste bindings between variables.

Edit Method

Comments

Left-Click

Starts an in-place edit of the binding.

Use this method to enter simple data values.

Double-Click

Opens the binding in a multi-line text editor.

Use this method to enter a complex expression.

Right-Click

Opens a menu to offer additional options:

Choose Select tag reference... to set the binding to a single tag reference.
Choose Edit data binding... to open the Data Binding Editor to set a more complex binding.
Choose Cut, Copy or Paste to cut, copy and paste bindings between variables.

Free Format Data Binding Editor

The Free Format Data Binding Editor is opened when the graphic editor does not have enough information about the embedded graphic. For example when the link to the embedded graphic is invalid.

Embedded graphic bindings use this syntax:

bindings = [ binding { ';' binding } [ ';' ] ] ;

binding = variable ':=' expression ;

Finding and Locating Errors

Errors in Embedded Graphic Bindings are highlighted in the editor using a dashed red underline:

Embedded Graphic bindings showing syntax error

Note: If you move the cursor near the error, a tooltip will be displayed providing an explanation of the error.

Finding more Subtle Errors

The Embedded Graphic Binding Editor will not accept code with obvious syntax errors. It is still possible to enter code with more subtle semantic errors. To find and locate additional errors:

Switch to the Code Errors tab of the Status Monitor Window:

Note: The above message shows an error in the global bindings of the 'Graphic' tag.
Click the link to the error. The Configuration Tool will select the property in the Properties Window which contains the error:

Note: The property with the error is shown with red text.
Click the Browse button to open the global bindings text editor:

Note: If you move the cursor near the error, a tooltip will be displayed providing an explanation of the error.

Further Information

Graphic Editor

For information on using the graphic page editor.

Glossary

For the meaning of terms used in Fernhill SCADA.