METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CHANGING OBJECTS IN A HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE DEVICE

摘要

When a programmer creates an object for use in a display screen of a human-machine interface device of a programmable system, at least some of the properties of the object are associated with a variable quantity. The programmer determines the property or properties for which the corresponding variable quantity is reassignable and which are fixed, by carrying out a setting operation, and creating an association record identifying which property or properties have a reassignable variable quantity. The object may then be stored in a library and transferred to the memory of the human-machine interface device. If a subsequent programmer wants to re-use the object by reassigning the variable quantity of one or more of the properties of the object, the association record is used to determine the property or properties for which the corresponding variable quantity is reassignable.

主权项

1. A method of changing an object for use in a display screen of a human-machine interface device of a programmable system, comprising the steps of:
creating said object, said object comprising an assembly of properties of said object, at least some of said properties being properties associated with a corresponding variable quantity; determining for said properties of said object associated with a corresponding variable quantity a property or properties for which the corresponding variable quantity is reassignable, with other property or properties of the object associated with a corresponding variable quantity being fixed; storing said object in a library; retrieving said object from said library; displaying said property or properties of said object for which the corresponding variable quantity is reassignable; reassigning a different variable quantity to a property of said property or properties for which the corresponding variable quantity is reassignable, thereby to change said object and thus create a new object; and transferring said new object to a memory of said human-machine interface device, for display on said display screen; wherein said determining step includes carrying out a setting operation to determine said property or properties for which the corresponding variable quantity is reassignable and creating an association record identifying said property or properties for which the corresponding variable quantity is reassignable; said storing step includes storing said association record in said library; and said retrieving step includes retrieving said association record; wherein said association record is used in said displaying step to identify for display said property or properties for which the corresponding variable quantity is reassignable.