Emerson Exchange 365

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Can you write a string using a data entry expert to a text caption?

Hello,

I am trying to configure a graphic so that an operator can click on a text which brings up the data entry expert.  The operator then types in one of two valid products (strings) which will be written to a text caption on another layer of the graphic by itself.  This caption is referenced by group animations that will make the graphic appear differently depending on what the caption is.  I am currently getting an error when I type in the string in the data entry expert and hit enter.  It tells me that it is an Invalid Entry.  Any thoughts on what could be causing this or suggestions of a better way to go about this?

Thanks,

Daniel 

• Data Entry
• Graphics
• string
• operate

dsturg

• 3 Nov 2015 3:51 PM
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5 Replies

• chip.burge

  

  • 3 Nov 2015 5:31 PM

  You could use a datalink to a named set to hold the string values of the text you want the operator to select. Applying the data entry wizard to this datalink gives a popup menu for the operators to pick the product name without the risk of fat-fingering.

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• AdrianOffield

  

  • 4 Nov 2015 4:35 AM

  In reply to chip.burge:

  I'd agree with Chip, store the string in the controller then you are certain all operator stations will have the same value. If stored as a variable on the operator station, how do the other stations know what the selection is, how do you propagate the value?

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• dsturg

  

  • 4 Nov 2015 12:03 PM

  In reply to chip.burge:

  Thanks for the reply Chip! I did end up getting it to work by using the InputBox function. I have code that checks to see if the operator entered one of the valid products and if not it does not accept. The caption that is written to is then referenced by animations in the graphic to make layers visible depending on what product is used.

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• dsturg

  

  • 4 Nov 2015 12:08 PM

  In reply to AdrianOffield:

  Adrian,
  
  Thanks for the reply. We are actually intentionally not storing this in the controller because the purpose of this is to make each op station able to view other layers of the graphic if needed while not affecting the other op stations. We actually use this functionality quite a bit since we can view the product's graphics that is currently not being made on a station while the operators are looking at the current running product's graphics on their stations.

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• Bill Tinley

  

  • 4 Nov 2015 12:57 PM

  Just because you "can" doesn't mean you "should"... what you are describing is a bad interface design. If there are exactly two correct answers, then the interface should be a selection (checkbox, dropdown list, etc.) rather than a text entry. Consider:
  
  Selection- single mouse click; only 2 options, either of which is valid.
  Text entry- multiple mouse clicks and multiple keystrokes; infinite number of options, 2 of which are valid, and all others are invalid and trigger an error message.
  
  As a general rule, the best way to handle "errors" is to prevent them from happening in the first place.

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