Next Generation MMI Requirements

May 4, 1997

MMI - High Level Requirements

• run under UNIX and Windows NT (WNT)

• use a well defined ASCII definition for objects

• easily extend the object list

• provide upgrade path from both MEDM and DM ASCII definitions

MMI - RequirementsPerformance

• < 2 second display call up for 1000 dynamic objects on a $5,000 machine ?

• up to 10,000 updates per second on a $5,000 machine ?

• differentiate widgets that meet this criteria and those that do not

• variable ca update rate

• make plots inactive - conditionally

MMI - RequirementsGraphic Objects

• line

• oval

• text

• polygons

• arcs

• pixmaps

• bitmaps

MMI - RequirementsMonitor Objects

• indicators

• bars

• meters,

• text - including access to associated fieds STAT, SEVR, TIME, etc..

• filled polygons

• multi-bit widget

• ca statistics available as PVs

MMI - RequirementsControl Objects

• valuators (sliders) - ganged sliders

• text entry

• buttons

• multi-bit controller

• menus

• toggle button

• file selection menu

• 2D controller

• menus

• thumb-wheel widget

• press message

• operator confirmation on selected values - this from access control rules

MMI - RequirementsObject Attributes

• color - static, rule based, or invisible

• visibility - stacked objects with one or more or’d in place

• expression available to manipulate values from client interface

for value, color, visibility

• configure object features at run time as well - these are transient

• out of range, read protected, write protected, indication on graphical objects

MMI - RequirementsPlots

• Strip charts

– 8 pens

– variable rate

• XY Plots

– single x - up to 8 y values

– different symbol/color per point

– user specified duration of value

– user specified definition of time coincednecs

• Smith Chart Grids for XY Plots

• Zplots - ALA XRT Graph?

• Access to archive data?

MMI - RequirementsDisplay functions

• print

• kill,

• print options - capable of postscript rendering for display

• related display,

• execute script

• bring up display on a different view - next, previous, up, down

tool bar (optional invisible) for these functions

MMI - Animation Features

• pan, zoom, declutter

• animation - change symbols, move objects on the screen (monitors and controllers)

• layering - animated objects obstruct some things and move behind others

• cancel monitors when: (not visible, panned out, iconized, operator disabled)

Person-Machine Interface - RequirementsFeatures II

• look and feel of local platform

• context sensitive help

• blink, audio, don’t use writable colors!

• favorites list (ALA netscape)

• variable color map

• run scripts with args - (run automatically on value)

• configure initial layout of all displays and related displays and return to them

• button 2 for drop to xterm

MMI - RequirementsEdit Features

• feature by feature global modify

• change object type

• grouping for align, distribute and common attributes

• separate basic and advanced properties

• snap to grid, gravity

• configurability of object - display range, control range, text formats etc…

• move, resize rotate (all selected objects)

• user defined labels on all menus, buttons,

• pixmap option for background - incorporate plant drawing from autocad