DateTime dashboard control

The DateTime dashboard control can be set to:

The DateTime dashboard control can be set to refresh along with the dashboard. See Refreshing a dashboard

This an example of how a DateTime dashboard control might look on a dashboard in run mode, depending on the settings. This example is set to display the date and time of the most recent dashboard refresh.

 

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The DateTime dashboard control Properties

Adding a DateTime dashboard control to a dashboard window

Click the DateTime button on the dashboard controls toolbar on a dashboard window that is open in design/edit mode:

The DateTime Display Options window (below) opens.

Setting the DateTime Display Options

The DateTime display options include:

Setting Last Data options

When you set the DateTime display options to either Last Data... make checks based on clock time or Last Data... - make checks based on elapsed time since last check, the DateTime Display Options window expands to display additional settings, similar to the following:

Collect data every n minutes

Enter the data collection time interval.

For Last Data... make checks based on clock time, your choices are every 30 minutes or every 60 minutes.

For Last Data... - make checks based on elapsed time since last check, you can enter the desired number of minutes between scheduled data collections.

Time due

For Last Data... make checks based on clock time, set the number of minutes after the top of the hour (nn:00) or half hour (nn:30) when the next scheduled data collection is due. You can choose a number from 0 to 10 minutes.

This setting works with the Collect data every n minutes setting above to determine what time the next scheduled data collection is due.

For example: For data collection that is due by 10 minutes past the hour, every hour, you would set these two settings to

For Last Data... - make checks based on elapsed time since last check, this setting is not available.

Overdue color

When displaying this DateTime control, GainSeeker will automatically check for data every 60 seconds. If the next scheduled data collection is overdue (based on your Collect data every n minues and Time due settings above), GainSeeker will change the background color of this DateTime control to the color you specify here.

Warning time and Warning color

You can configure this DateTime control to display a warning color if data collection has not been performed within n minutes of the next scheduled data collection.

To do so, set the Warning time to the number of minutes before the next scheduled data collection is due, and choose a Warning color to display until the data collection is performed or the next scheduled data collection becomes overdue.

To disable this warning, set the Warning time to 0.

SPC data and Filter

These two settings determine what data GainSeeker looks for when determining whether data collection has been performed.

"No data" label and color

If GainSeeker finds no data during the last four hours that matches the SPC data and Filter settings (above) for this DateTime control, this control will display the "No data" label and color you specify here. The next time data is entered, this control will revert to displaying the date and time of the most recent data.

Editing the DateTime control properties

Click the DateTime dashboard control on the dashboard window that is open in design/edit mode to select the control for edit.

The Properties dialog menu changes to display the DateTime setting and the Properties grid displays the properties specific to this control.

Editing the Style property

Use the Style property to edit the date and time display type.

To edit the Style property:

  1. Click the Style property value cell in the Behavior category.

  1. Click the ellipsis button in the value cell.

The DateTime Display Options window opens.

Editing the OverdueAction property

The OverdueAction property configures an action to be automatically triggered each time this DateTime control changes to the Overdue color. (If the DateTime control already displays the Overdue color when the dashboard opens, the action will be triggered the first time this control is refreshed.) It is only triggered if the Style property is LastData or LastElapsed.

For dashboards and desktops:

To automatically refresh the dashboard after the selected Action is complete, select the Refresh Dashboard after Action is complete check box. This can be useful if the Action will update the information being displayed on the dashboard.

Note: When this option is used, the user cannot interact with the GainSeeker Charts module until the Action being performed is finished. For Actions that involve running a different program - File, Template, Planned Session, Stored Session, or Inspection - that program must be closed before the user can resume interaction with the GainSeeker Charts module.

You can optionally use command line parameters with the Run a File, Run a Template, Run a Planned Session, Run a Stored Session, Run an Inspection and Run Python Script options on the Select Action Item dialog. For more information, see Setting up shortcuts to perform automatic functions.

Editing the TextPrefix property

The TextPrefix property is used to enter a text label to precede the date and time display on the control.

To edit the TextPrefix property:

  1. Click the TextPrefix property value cell in the Appearance category

  2. Select the current text label in the cell.

  3. Enter a new text label for the control to display with the date and time.

Editing the (Date format string) property

Some of the date format string syntax used in GainSeeker version 8.2 and later and Dynamic Reports has changed from those used in earlier versions.

For more information about these changes, see Date/Time formats and Numeric Formats

Editing more DateTime dashboard control properties