Use the String Variable dialog box to enter a string variable in a text box. The string variable can be a tag name or placeholder that will change dynamically at run time, or a literal string that will be shown as entered here.
There are instances where you may want to embed string data within another string. For example, you may be connected to a controller that provides alarm text messages or event messages through a tag or data item. You may want to trap that text message and save it in a FactoryTalk View alarm message, to retain a history of controller issues. To do this, embed the data item within the alarm message text generated when the alarm is triggered. When the alarm occurs, the variable string is saved with the alarm text.
Tip: |
Embedded variables are case sensitive, and must be in the proper format and syntax to work. If you make a mistake, your variable will be treated as a piece of text. Therefore, do not attempt to edit embedded variables manually. Use the Insert Variable and Edit variable dialog boxes to avoid problems. |
Choose this option to use a string tag as the source of the string variable. Type the name of a string tag, or type a tag placeholder.
To open the Tag Browser and select a tag, click the Browse button.
Choose this option to enter a literal character string as the string variable. This choice places the character 'L' (for Literal) at the beginning of the embedded variable, and prevents the system from performing a tag read for this variable.
Tip: |
You can include numbers in the Literal string option. However, if the number you want to show requires decimal places or other special formatting, use the Literal number option. |
Check this box if you want the variable to always display the same number of characters. Then select the number of characters to display, up to 255.
If you clear this box, the length of the embedded variable changes to accommodate the length of the string tag’s value.
Check this box if you want the number of shown characters to be counted from the right-hand side of the string, instead of the left-hand side.
Check this box if you want the display to show an asterisk (*) if the character string is too long to be shown in the field. If the Right-most characters in string are displayed check box is selected, the asterisk will appear at the beginning of the string, otherwise it will appear at the end.