Example: Create a multicolor symbol

As an example, we will create four different multicolor symbols representing the four states of a motor. We will create two motors and use the symbols on the Ship automation diagram.

The four symbols will look like this when finalized:

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Open the IGSS Demo configuration located in the [IGSS InstallPath]\Gssdemo\Eng folder.
In the Edit menu, select Symbols.
In the Tables menu, select New Symbol Table. The new table appears initially called No Name.
Click the first unused symbol slot. In the Symbol menu, select Properties.
Click the Symbol Properties tab and do the following:

In the Symbol name field, type M-OFF.
Select the Multicolor option.
Click the Set button and set yellow (R=255, G=255, B=128) - $images\col_yellow.gif$ - as the transparent color. The transparent color will function as the background when you draw the multicolour symbol. When you view the symbol in the browse pane, the transparent color will not be visible. Thus, you must choose a color which is not used in the symbol.

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Click the Table Properties tab and do the following:

In the Table name field, type Multicolor Symbols.
Click the Deselect All button then enable the Digital check box. We will only use the multicolour symbols for digital objects.
Click OK.

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The first symbol will be used for the OFF state and will be two triangles (one red, the other white).
Draw the symbol as follows:

First we will fill out the background with the transparent color. Click the yellow color in the color palette, then click the Fill Color tool and finally click inside the drawing area. The entire background of the drawing area now becomes yellow. To make sure that you've chosen the right color, check that the M-OFF symbol is empty in the browse pane, because we've only used the transparent color so far.
In the color palette, click the black color - $images\col_black.gif$ – before drawing the first shape.
In the View menu, select Special Draw Tools. In the toolbar, select the Right Angled Triangle tool - $images\ico_rightangledtriangle.gif$ to draw a triangle as shown in the picture below.

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Place the cursor three pixels up and three pixels from the right side of the lower right corner dragging the triangle towards the top. Release it three pixels from the top and the left side as shown above. The two pixels completely surrounding the symbol in the periphery will be used in the symbol mask. They will appear as an outline around the symbol which will blink during the alarm state.
Click the white color - $images\col_white.gif$ - in the color palette, activate the Fill Color tool and finally click inside the triangle.
Click the black color - $images\col_black.gif$ - in the color palette, activate the Right Angled Triangle tool - $images\ico_rightangledtriangle.gif$ . Place the cursor at the top left corner at the pixel just below the first triangle. Drag towards the bottom so that the two triangles meet in the middle. Again allow two pixels at the side and the bottom.
Click the red color - $images\col_red.gif$ - in the color palette, activate the Fill Color tool and finally click inside the triangle.

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In the Options menu, select Auto Mask. A white outline now appears around the symbol in the browse pane.
The symbol is now ready for use. Let’s test the blinking of the symbol as follows.

Right-click the symbol in the browse pane and select Properties.
Click the Symbol Preview tab, select the Test blink check box and set the blink color. Once the color is defined, the symbol will blink alternating between the symbol and the mask.
Click OK.

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Click the Next > button to create the symbols for the remaining three states.

$images\BTN_Next__94.gif$