Operating the touch panel (TP)

9.1.2.1 Operating touch objects Operation

Touch objects are touch-sensitive operating objects on the HMI screen, e.g. buttons, I/O fields and alarm windows. The operation of these is basically no different than the operation of conventional keys. You operate these objects by touching them with the finger.

Caution

Always touch only one object on the screen. Do not touch several touch objects simultaneously. You may trigger an unintended action.

Caution

Do not use any pointed or sharp objects when operating the touch screen in order to avoid damaging the plastic surface.

Direct keys

With a PROFIBUS DP connection, it is also possible to configure buttons for operation as direct keys in order to allow rapid operator inputs using keys. Rapid button operation is conditional for jog mode, for example.

PROFIBUS-DP direct keys place bits directly from the HMI device in the I/O area of a SIMATIC S7.

Note

Direct keys can only be triggered by touch and not by a mouse click from an connected external USB mouse.

Note

With touch operation, direct keys are triggered independent of any configured password protection.

Notice

Direct keys are still active when the HMI device is in the "offline" mode.

Button action feedback

The HMI device outputs an acoustic and optical signal as soon as it detects the operation of a touch object. This feedback is always output, irrespective of communication with the PLC. Therefore, this feedback does not indicate whether the relevant action is actually executed or not.

Acoustic acknowledgement

The HMI device outputs a beep to signal operation of a touch object. You can disable this beep.

Visual feedback

The type of visual feedback depends on the operated touch object: • Buttons

The HMI outputs different indications of the "Touched" and "Not touched" states, provided the programmer has configured a 3D effect:

Untouched Touched

The programmer defines the layout of a selected field (line width and color of the focus.) • Hidden buttons

The focus of hidden buttons is not set after marking (focus width value is 0, default.) In Runtime, the outline of a touched button is indicated as a line when you modify the focus with value in the configuration data. This outline remains visible until the focus is set on another operating object.

Operating screen objects with buttons

Screen objects with predefined buttons can also be operated with external buttons. The requires the programmer to have linked the relevant system functions to these buttons. In WinCC flexible, these system functions are organized in the "Keyboard actions for screen objects" group.

See also

Volume & Sounds (Page 6-17)

9.1.2.2 Input of values Screen keyboard

The HMI device automatically opens the screen keyboard when you touch an input object such as an I/O field. This screen keyboard also appears for the input of passwords for access to protected functions. The HMI automatically hides the keyboard again when input is complete.

Based on the configuration of the input object, the HMI device shows a screen keyboard only for the input of numeric or alphanumeric values.

The screen keyboard is activated by selecting an input object in runtime.

See also

Open Control Panel (Page 6-2)

9.1.2.3 Input of numeric values Numeric screen keyboard

The HMI device automatically opens the numeric screen keyboard for the input of numeric values when you touch an I/O field on the screen. The HMI automatically hides the keyboard again when input is complete.

The <Help> button is only active if an operator note is configured for the I/O field.

Figure 9-1 Screen keyboard for numeric input

Procedure

You enter the characters of numeric values using the screen keyboard buttons. Confirm the input value with <Enter>, or cancel it with <Esc>. Both functions will close the screen keyboard.

Note

The numeric input fields may be assigned limits. In this case, the system accepts only the values which lie within the configured range. The system rejects any values which are out of these limits and restores the original value. In this case, the HMI outputs a system alarm. When you input of the first character a Quickinfo appears, showing the high and low limit values of the input field.

See also

Input of values (Page 9-4)

9.1.2.4 Input of alphanumeric values Alphanumeric screen keyboard

The HMI automatically opens an alphanumeric keyboard for the input of strings and numeric values in hex format when you touch an input object on the screen. The HMI automatically

Figure 9-2 Screen keyboard for alphanumeric input

Keyboard layers

The alphanumeric keyboard is organized in several layers: • Standard layer (see the figure)

• <Shift> layer • <Alt Gr> layer • <Shift+Alt Gr> layer

The <Alt Gr> and <Shift+Alt Gr> layers are used for the input of special characters.

Procedure

You use the screen keyboard buttons to input the characters of alphanumeric values. Confirm the input value with <Enter>, or cancel it with <Esc>. Both functions will close the screen keyboard.

9.1.2.5 Calling the operator note Purpose

The operator notes provide additional information and operating instructions with respect to alarms, screen and operable screen objects to the programmer. A operator note may contain information about the permissible range of values for an I/O field, or information on the causes of alarm events and their elimination.

Help on messages

Actuate the button on the alarm screen or in the alarm view

Help on input objects

Touch the <Help> button on the screen keyboard. This button is only available if you configured an operator note.

Help on the current screen

Call the operator note for the current screen

Help on the focused screen object

Use the <Alt+H> key combination on the screen keyboard or on the connected USB keyboard to display the operator notes configured for the focused screen object.

Note

To view a new operator note, you first need to close the window showing the current operator note.