Setting Up Meters & Gauges
Meters and gauges are the most common DDOs for visualizing real-time numeric data. StudioWeb provides six meter/gauge types, each suited to different display needs.
Meter Types
| Type | Visual | Best For |
|---|
| Meter | Arc-style analog meter with needle | Temperature, pressure, speed |
| Gauge | Circular dial with needle | RPM, angles, compass-style |
| FSL Meter | Flat linear scale (horizontal/vertical) | Tank levels, simple readouts |
| MSL Meter | Multi-segment linear scale | Multi-range displays |
| Thermometer | Vertical thermometer with bulb | Temperature displays |
| Progress Bar | Horizontal/vertical fill bar | Completion percentage, levels |
Common DFD Properties
All meter types share these core properties:
Value & Range
| Property | Description | Default |
|---|
| Min | Minimum scale value | 0 |
| Max | Maximum scale value | 100 |
| Decimals | Decimal places for value display | 1 |
| Show Value | Show numeric readout on the meter | Yes (1) |
| Title | Label displayed on the meter | — |
Colors
| Property | Description | Default |
|---|
| Meter Color | Primary meter body color | #00ff00 |
| Face Color | Background face of the meter | #000000 |
| Needle Color | Needle or indicator color | #ff0000 |
| Scale Color | Scale markings and labels | #ffffff |
| Title Color | Title text color | #ffffff |
| Value FG Color | Numeric readout text color | #ffffff |
| Value BG Color | Numeric readout background | — |
Scale Options (Meter / Gauge)
| Property | Description |
|---|
| Tick Increment | Spacing between ticks (0 = auto-calculate) |
| No Ticks | Hide tick marks entirely |
| Wide Scale | Thick colored arc showing value range |
| Color Type | Color reference mode: 0=Left (ascending), 1=Center (split), 2=Right (descending) |
Conversion
| Property | Description |
|---|
| Conv Factor Index | Engineering unit conversion factor |
Arc Meter (Meter) Details
The Arc Meter is the classic SAMMI meter — a 180° arc with tick marks:
- Needle rotates from min (left) to max (right)
- Wide Scale mode shows a thick colored arc: min→value in threshold color, value→max in scale color
- Color Type controls threshold coloring direction
- Tick marks auto-calculate spacing based on range, or use
tickIncrement for manual control
Gauge Details
The Gauge is a full circular dial:
- 270° sweep with the gap at the bottom
- Same color and scale properties as Meter
- Better suited for rotational values (RPM, angles)
FSL / MSL Meter Details
Linear meters display a filled bar:
| Property | Description |
|---|
| Fill | Fill direction (0=bottom-up, 1=top-down, etc.) |
| Show Hi/Lo | Display high/low markers |
Thermometer Details
| Property | Description |
|---|
| Bulb Color | Color of the thermometer bulb |
| Tube Color | Color of the tube fill |
| Outline Color | Border color |
Example: Basic Temperature Meter
- Place a Meter DDO on the canvas
- Set DFD properties:
- Min: -20, Max: 120
- Decimals: 1
- Title: “Temperature °F”
- Meter Color:
#00cc00
- Face Color:
#1a1a2e
- Set HDA properties:
- Logical Server:
peer_fast
- Read Key:
temperature
- Data Type: real
Tips
- Use Wide Scale mode for at-a-glance range visualization
- Set decimals to match the precision of your data source
- Color Type = Center is useful for bipolar values (e.g., deviation from setpoint)
- Thermometers work best in tall, narrow aspect ratios
- Progress bars work best in wide, short aspect ratios
See Also