About BAR_CHART

BAR_CHART allows multiple numerical process values to be displayed as bars within the same chart area on SCADA screens. The control's core data structure is the collection of Bar Data Items of type BAR_DATA_COLLECTION[]. Each data item can be represented by a bar corresponding to its value within the chart.

The primary purpose of this control is to present the current states of different data points in a single visual area, making them easy to compare. For example, power values from different generating units, flow rates from different pumps, levels in different tanks, or instantaneous values from different load groups can be displayed on the same chart.


Unlike a trend chart designed to display historical changes over time, BAR_CHART can be used to quickly assess the relative magnitudes of multiple values at the same point in time. It is therefore a suitable visual tool, particularly for displaying and comparing instantaneous states.

Basic approach: BAR_CHART displays different SCADA data values as bars within the same chart area. The control's appearance and the way values are presented can be configured using the properties defined in the source code.

How to Configure

When configuring BAR_CHART, first define the control's general operating properties and data items. Then configure the chart sizing, bar drawing style, labels, value display, and visual effects.

Recommended Configuration Sequence

  1. General: Control type, control name, update interval, and decimal places.
  2. Bar Data: Define the Bar Data Items to be displayed on the chart.
  3. Chart: Select the Chart Sizing Mode and Items Drawing Mode.
  4. Labels: Configure bar labels and label font properties.
  5. Description: Configure the chart description and its font properties.
  6. Values: Configure value display and select the Digit or Percent mode.
  7. Gradient: Select the Painting Mode and define the colors.
  8. Border and Shadow: Adjust the final visual details of the chart.

General Properties

The basic operating and appearance properties of the BAR_CHART control are defined by the parameters below. These properties are used to identify and update the control and configure its basic text and visual presentation.

Property table: Each row includes the technical property name, its EOS Turkish equivalent, default value, purpose, and typical application.

Property EOS Turkish Equivalent Default Purpose Typical Application
UCType Control Type BAR_CHART Defines the type of user control. Basic configuration where the BAR_CHART control is defined.
UpdateInterval Update Interval 1000 ms Specifies the control's update interval. Charts where real-time SCADA data is refreshed periodically.
DecimalPoint Decimal Places 0 Specifies the number of decimal places used to display numerical values. Displaying numerical values such as power, flow rate, level, and pressure.
UCBackColor Control Background Color White Specifies the control's background color. Matching the chart area to the screen design.
UCForeColor Control Text Color Black Specifies the control's primary text color. Controlling the appearance of general text on the chart.
UCFont Control Font Arial Narrow, 8.25 pt Specifies the control's primary font. Adjusting the readability of general text displayed on the control.

Bar Data Items

BarDataItems represents the collection of data items displayed on the BAR_CHART. In the source code, this structure is defined as BAR_DATA_COLLECTION[].

Property EOS Turkish Equivalent Default Purpose Typical Application
BarDataItems Bar Data Items BAR_DATA_COLLECTION[] Represents the collection of bar data items to be displayed on the chart. Displaying multiple SCADA data values on the same chart.

Source code limitation: The provided code excerpt does not include the internal properties of the BAR_DATA_COLLECTION class. Therefore, this page does not provide source-code-based details about the fields contained in each data item, how data connections are established, or how the color and label settings of individual data items are defined.

Example Usage

Current power values from different generating units can be compared within the same chart. Each unit's value is represented on the chart as a separate Bar Data Item.

  • Unit 1 Active Power
  • Unit 2 Active Power
  • Unit 3 Active Power
  • Unit 4 Active Power

Chart and Bar Settings

This group defines the sizing of the chart area and the visual drawing style of the bars.

Property EOS Turkish Equivalent Default Purpose Typical Application
ChartSizingMode Chart Sizing Mode Normal Specifies the chart's scaling behavior. Using the chart with normal or automatic scaling behavior.
ItemsDrawingMode Items Drawing Mode Glass Specifies the visual drawing style of the bars. Displaying bars in Glass, Rubber, or Solid style.
DisplayBarTooltip Display Bar Tooltip true Specifies whether tooltips associated with the bars are enabled. Screens where users need to view additional information about chart bars.

ChartSizingMode Values

ENUM English
Normal Normal
Autoscale Autoscale

ItemsDrawingMode Values

ENUM English
Glass Glass
Rubber Rubber
Solid Solid

Label Settings

Labels can be enabled separately to make it easier to identify the bars on the chart. The label color and font can also be configured.

Property EOS Turkish Equivalent Default Purpose Typical Application
DisplayBarLabels Display Bar Labels false Specifies whether bar labels are displayed. Clearly identifying on the chart which data item each bar represents.
LabelColor Label Color Black Specifies the color of the bar labels. Distinguishing labels from the chart background.
LabelFont Label Font Tahoma, 8 pt, Bold Specifies the font properties of the bar labels. Adjusting label readability.

Description Settings

This group can be used when explanatory text about the chart needs to be displayed on BAR_CHART. The description's visibility, text, color, and font can be configured independently.

Property EOS Turkish Equivalent Default Purpose Typical Application
DisplayDescription Display Description false Specifies whether the chart description is displayed. Identifying the chart's purpose or data group with a title or description.
DescriptionText Description Text "" Specifies the description text to be displayed. Explaining to users what the chart represents.
DescriptionColor Description Color Black Specifies the color of the description text. Matching the chart title to the screen design.
DescriptionFont Description Font Tahoma, 14 pt, Bold Specifies the font properties of the description text. Adjusting the visual hierarchy of the chart title.

Value Settings

Value settings determine whether the numerical information represented by the bars is displayed on the chart and how that information is presented.

Property EOS Turkish Equivalent Default Purpose Typical Application
DisplayValues Display Values true Specifies whether the values represented by the bars are displayed. Situations where operators need to see numerical values directly on the chart.
ValuesMode Values Mode Digit Specifies whether values are displayed as digits or percentages. Displaying absolute process values or percentage-based comparisons.
ValuesColor Values Color Black Specifies the color of the value text displayed on the chart. Improving the readability of value information.
ValuesFont Values Font Tahoma, 7 pt Specifies the font properties of the value text. Adjusting the readability of bar values.

ValuesMode Values

ENUM English
Percent Percent
Digit Digit

Gradient and Painting Settings

The visual appearance of the bars is determined by the Painting Mode. One of three options can be used: solid color, linear gradient, or radial gradient.

Property EOS Turkish Equivalent Default Purpose Typical Application
PaintingMode Painting Mode Solidcolor Specifies how the bars are filled and painted. Creating solid-color or gradient bar appearances.
GradientColor1 Gradient Color 1 White Specifies the first color used in the gradient. Two-color gradient designs.
GradientColor2 Gradient Color 2 DimGray Specifies the second color used in the gradient. Two-color gradient designs.

PaintingMode Values

ENUM English
Lineargradient Linear Gradient
Radialgradient Radial Gradient
Solidcolor Solid Color

Border Settings

Border properties determine whether a frame is displayed around the chart area or related visual elements, and define the appearance of that frame.

Property EOS Turkish Equivalent Default Purpose Typical Application
DisplayBorder Display Border false Specifies whether the border is displayed. Screens where the chart area needs a visible frame.
BorderStyle Border Style None Specifies the style of the border. Configuring the border as a single-line or fixed 3D frame.
BorderColor Border Color Black Specifies the border color. Matching the chart frame to the screen design.
BorderWidth Border Width 1 Specifies the border width. Adjusting the visual thickness of the chart frame.

GNCerceveTuru Values

ENUM English
None None
Fixedsingle Fixed Single
Fixed3d Fixed 3D

Shadow Settings

Shadow settings can be used to adjust the visual depth of chart elements. The available options include inner, outer, or combined shadows.

Property EOS Turkish Equivalent Default Purpose Typical Application
ShadowMode Shadow Mode None Specifies whether a shadow is used and its direction. Adjusting the visual depth of the chart and bars.
WidthInner Inner Width 5 Specifies the width of the inner shadow. Configuring the inner shadow effect.
WidthOuter Outer Width 5 Specifies the width of the outer shadow. Configuring the outer shadow effect.

BCGolgeTuru Values

ENUM English
None None
Inner Inner
Outer Outer
Both Both

Live Data Display

The default value of the BAR_CHART UpdateInterval property is 1000 ms. This value defines the control's update interval. As the data items used on the SCADA screen are updated, the bars on the chart are intended to reflect their current values.

Example: Comparing Unit Power Values

BAR_CHART can be used to monitor the active power values of four generating units simultaneously in a power plant. Each unit is represented on the chart as a separate Bar Data Item.

  • Unit 1 — Active Power
  • Unit 2 — Active Power
  • Unit 3 — Active Power
  • Unit 4 — Active Power

This arrangement helps operators quickly determine, within a single chart area, which unit currently has a higher or lower value than the others.

Example: Tank Levels

If the fill levels of multiple tanks need to be displayed as percentages, the Percent option can be selected for ValuesMode. The chart can then present the current fill levels of different tanks for comparison.

Applications

BAR_CHART can be used to monitor similar or comparable numerical values from different process points on the same screen. The following examples illustrate the control's general usage.

Power Generation

Can be used to compare active power, reactive power, or similar numerical values from different generating units.

Flow Rate and Level

Flow rates in different lines or level values in different tanks can be displayed side by side in the same chart area.

Equipment Groups

Can be used to compare measurable values from groups of pumps, fans, compressors, or similar equipment on the same screen.

Comparative Process Display

Can be used to compare the instantaneous magnitudes of different process variables of the same type within a single visual area.

Using BAR_CHART in SCADA Screen Design

When designing a BAR_CHART, visual interpretation is easier when the values being compared use the same or comparable scales. If values with different physical units must be displayed on the same chart, the scaling method and the way the values are explained to users should be considered separately.

Readability: When many bars are placed in the same chart area, sufficient space must be reserved for labels and value text. As the number of bars increases, the chart area, font size, and value display settings should be considered together.

Scale consistency: To ensure that bars can be meaningfully interpreted within the same chart, the selected scale and display method should be appropriate for all data items.

Note: The examples on this page explain the properties defined in the BAR_CHART source code in the context of general SCADA usage. No definitive behavior is specified for data connections or calculation algorithms that are not present in the supplied source code.

Industrial Applications of Bar Charts

In industrial visualization applications, bar charts are used not only to represent numerical values graphically but also to compare multiple values. This approach is particularly useful on screens where operators need to recognize differences between values quickly.

Bar charts can be used to compare fill levels, production quantities, load values, equipment measurements, and similar process variables. Using value labels, scales, and descriptions on the chart helps users understand the relationship between numerical values and their visual magnitudes.

This general approach is consistent with the structure of BAR_CHART: the control can contain multiple Bar Data Items, and the bars' drawing style, value display, labels, and visual properties can be configured separately.

Research note: Industrial HMI documentation reviewed during internet research indicates that bar charts are commonly used to compare multiple numerical values, visually represent levels or quantities, and help operators quickly understand relationships between values. This information is used to explain BAR_CHART's applications in the context of general industrial visualization. Features not present in the BAR_CHART source code have not been attributed to the control itself.

Quick Property Reference

Group Key Properties
General UCType, UCName, UpdateInterval, DecimalPoint, UCBackColor, UCForeColor, UCFont
Bar BarDataItems, ChartSizingMode, ItemsDrawingMode, DisplayBarTooltip
Labels DisplayBarLabels, LabelColor, LabelFont
Description DisplayDescription, DescriptionText, DescriptionColor, DescriptionFont
Values DisplayValues, ValuesMode, ValuesColor, ValuesFont
Gradient PaintingMode, GradientColor1, GradientColor2
Border DisplayBorder, BorderStyle, BorderColor, BorderWidth
Shadow ShadowMode, WidthInner, WidthOuter

Conclusion

BAR_CHART is a user control that can be used to display different process values as bar charts within the same visual area on EOS SCADA screens. Its basic structure is based on graphically presenting current values through multiple Bar Data Items.

Properties such as chart sizing, bar drawing style, labels, descriptions, value display, gradients, borders, and shadows allow the same control to be adapted to different screen designs. It provides a useful visual presentation, particularly on screens where current values from different units, equipment, or process points need to be monitored and compared.

Summary: BAR_CHART is designed to present different SCADA data values as live, comparable bar charts. The chart's appearance and value presentation can be configured in detail using the properties explicitly defined in the source code.

← Back to Previous Content