Animating a Symbol Object to Hyperlink to Another Display

You can use parameters to animate a symbol object so that it acts as a hyperlink to another display. The value of the parameter defines the location of the display that is to be shown when the object is selected (the 'target' display).

To configure a Symbol object to act as a hyperlink, you need to edit the expression for the symbol object's PickParam animation so that it is:

"Parameter:<Parameter Name>"

Where:

• <Parameter Name> matches the name of a parameter that you have created for the Mimic. The value of the named parameter defines the location of the 'target' display.

To animate a symbol object to act as a hyperlink:

1. Configure a group parameter:
   1. Select Parameters in the View command group on the Graphics tab.
   2. In the Parameters window, select Add.
   3. In the Add Parameters window, define the name of the parameter and select the Group check box. The name of the group parameter will be an option that you can use to select the required expression so it is better to define a suitable name.
2. Configure a child parameter named ObjectLink. The ObjectLink parameter has to be a child of the group parameter that you created in the previous step. It also has to be named ObjectLink as this is the property that links the pick action menu of an item to the symbol.
3. Double click on the symbol object to display its Polyline Properties window.
4. On the General tab, select the Animations button to display the Animations window.
5. Select the PickParam property on the Animations window.
6. Select the Edit button to display the Expression window.
7. Select the browse button to display a context sensitive menu.
8. Select the option that is named the same as the group parameter you created in step 1.
   A further menu is displayed.
9. Select the ObjectLink option.
   The correct expression is shown in the Expression field.

   This links the symbol object with the ObjectLink property of any item that is associated with the symbol. Each database item has an ObjectLink property that contains a location address (in the Geo SCADA Expert format). So, when you embed the symbol on a Mimic, you can drag any database item from the Database Bar onto the symbol and associate its ObjectLink property with the symbol object's ObjectLink parameter.

10. Select the OK button to confirm the expression and close the Expression window.
11. Select the PickType property.
12. Select the Edit button to display the Expression window.
13. Enter the PickType number that corresponds to the type of hyperlink that you require. The numbers and types of hyperlink are explained in Using Animations to Create a Hyperlink.
14. Select the OK button to confirm the expression and close the Expression window.
15. Close the Animations window.

The symbol object is now configured to act as a hyperlink. It will link to any display that is associated with the named parameter (see Animating Mimic Parameters on an Embedded Mimic).