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Getting Started |
Device and Port Properties |
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Devices and Ports have various attributes called Properties, which are values that affect the behavior of the device. Some Properties can be configured at Design-Time and others are accessible at Run-Time.
Design-Time Properties can be specified within the Topology View during the design of your system and are saved as part of your project. These properties are usually used to configure the behavior of the device or port ahead of time, often in the absence of having the actual device physically connected.
Examples of Design-Time Properties are:
the Name of a Device, to make it easily distinguishable within your project,
the IP Address of an Ethernet port,
the baud rate of a Serial port.
Design-Time properties can be viewed and edited in the Property Grid on the right side of the Topology View. The Properties displayed are for the currently selected device, and are grouped by each Port:
The Property Grid
Notes
Some properties may not immediately be visible when a
device is initially selected. For
example, to set the IP Address of an Ethernet port, you need to first
expand the Ethernet In item, by
clicking the 
expander button next to it in the Property
Grid. The
item will expand to display its IPAddress
and IPPort properties.
Configuring a device should always be in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions or recommendations.
To control a device at run-time, it must make available all of its controllable properties and functions. Devices have two types of controllability:
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Type of Control |
Description |
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Property |
Similar to Design-Time properties, these are values that can be altered at run-time that affect the behavior of the Device. Changing some properties may cause an immediate effect in behavior, others may only affect behavior when actioned by a subsequent Method. |
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Method |
Methods are actions that can be performed on a Port that causes the Device to do something specific. Methods can be thought of as verbs, and are usually named so. |
Examples of Run-Time Properties are:
the Chapter property of a DVD Player might set the next chapter of the current disc to be played,
the Volume property of a Plasma display might immediately change the volume level.
Examples of Methods are:
the Play method of a DVD Player might play the disc from the most recently selected Chapter property,
the Mute method of an A/V Amplifier might toggle the mute state of the audio output.
Properties and Methods are usually set in response to an Event An occurrence of a change of state or change to a Property of a Device, Port or Control., which occurs either by the operator interacting with your User Interface in a certain way (e.g. clicking a button), or generated by a Device or Port.
More information about Events and about setting Run-Time Properties and Functions can be found in the Events and Actions section.