Two other objects can be added to a button. One indicating the released state of the button and one the pressed state.

The button supports the following child object types:

•Numeric Field

•String Field

•Arched Bargraph

•Linear Bargraph

•Meter

•List

•Picture Graphic

•Container

It is common to use String Fields or Picture Graphics for pressed and released objects.

Containers can be used to design more complex buttons while keeping the "one object for pressed and one object for released state" constraint.

Note: If only one child is assigned it will be shown permanently on device whereas toggling "Pressed State" on PC tool will show one state empty and the other with the child.

Attention: While it is technically possible, do not put a container inside of a button and then another button inside the container. Such combinations are not supported or tested and will most likely lead to unexpected behavior.

How to add the objects to a button:

•Drop a button on a frame

•Make sure that the "Pressed State" property of the button is disabled

•Drag any supported object from the palette to the button in the designer area (or an existing object from project tree to the button in project tree)

oThe added object will now represent the release state of the button

•Enable the property "Pressed State"

•Drag any supported object from the palette to the button in the designer area (or an existing object from project tree to the button in project tree)

oThe added object will now represent the press state of the button

To assign another object to a button, follow the same steps above. A dialog will ask if the pressed/released object shall be replaced.

Pressed / Released Image

Alternatively to putting one or two Picture Graphic objects into the button, these properties can be used to add 1 or 2 images to the button without adding more objects.

Draw Shadow (Theme dependent)

A button shadow can be drawn around the button that changes according to pressed or released state of the button. This is a visual help for the user to determine if the button is just pressed or not.

Disable this property if the design of the button is completely custom and the press/release state is distinguishable using the pressed and released objects (see above).

If this property is enabled, a small region between button background (or object inside button) and border of the button is reserved for the shadow. If it is disabled, the background of the button (or object inside the button) goes directly to the border.

Default value: Enabled

Possible value: Enabled or Disabled

Shadow Color (Theme dependent)

If "Draw Shadow" is enabled one can define the shadow color used to draw the shadow. The background color of the shadow is the button background color which includes that. the background of the shadow is transparent if the button is configured as transparent.

The button shadow consists of two areas where one is drawn in the opaque color selected and the other is drawn in a half-transparent version of the same color.

Both colors are switched when button is pressed to simulate a kind of 3D effect of the pressed/released button.

Default value: Black.

Possible value: Any color allowed by standard color chooser.

Latching

Latching means: When a button is pressed and released, it toggles state and stays in the toggled state until it is pressed again.

Like that a latching button resembles a light switch whereas a non-latching button resembles a door-bell switch.

With this property this behavior can be enabled.

Default value: Disabled

Possible values: Enabled or Disabled

 
Please note that this property affects the behavior of the press and release events of the objects.

Pressed State

Switch between the release or pressed state of the button. This is important for having a preview of the object and also for adding pressed/released objects for the button (see above).

Note: If only one child is assigned to the button the other state will be shown as empty on PC tool but on the device this one child will show permanently - button shadow should be used to show button state in this scenario.

This property has no influence to runtime behavior.

Default value: Disabled

Possible values:

•Enabled (button is in pressed state)

•Disabled (button is in released state)

Pressed Object ID

The ID of the object that represents the pressed object of the button.

Will be automatically set when adding a pressed state object to the button (see above).

Can't be edited by hand.

Released Object ID

The ID of the object that represents the released object of the button.

Will be automatically set when adding a released state object to the button (see above).

Can't be edited by hand.

Pressed Image (Theme dependent)

Alternatively to putting one or two Picture Graphic objects into the button, this property can be used to add an image to the button. The image set in this property will be used as the pressed image. If no image is set for the Released Image property but for the Pressed Image property, the button will only show an image when it is pressed. Both properties should be set with an image.

Released Image (Theme dependent)

Alternatively to putting one or two Picture Graphic objects into the button, this property can be used to add an image to the button. The image set in this property will be used as the released image. If no image is set for the Pressed Image property but for the Released Image property, the button will only show an image when it is released. Both properties should be set with an image.

The following events can be configured for the button object:

•OnPress

•OnRelease

•OnLongPress

•OnLongRelease

•OnDblClick

•OnOpenForInput

•OnEnabledWithFocus

•OnEnabledWithoutFocus

•OnValueChange

See here for the descriptions of all event and possible actions that can be assigned.