Providing Operator Instructions Using OLE Objects with Forms

You can use existing tools in conjunction with PC-DMIS to provide you with expanded functionality. For example, suppose you want to provide an operator with detailed instructions regarding part setup or measurement. One way to do this is to embed into a custom form, using the OLE object, an external file containing these instructions. Below are some examples of how to embed instructional files into forms using some common Microsoft Office tools.

These examples demonstrate how to use a Microsoft Word file and Microsoft PowerPoint file as OLE objects inside of a form to provide instructions to an operator during measurement routine execution. These examples provide you with a taste of what you can do with OLE objects inside of your report or form. How you put this knowledge to use for your own situation is up to you.

• Providing Instructions Using a Microsoft Word OLE Object

  One way to provide instructions to those who run your measurement routines is to use something like Microsoft Word.

  This topic and the steps below assume you have Microsoft Word installed on your computer.

  Step 1 - Create and Save the Instructions as a Word Document

  1. Create your part setup instructions inside of a Word document.

  2. Save the .doc file to a directory on your disk. Feel free to include pictures, tables, and other advanced formatting inside your .doc file. The sample doc file used for this topic looks like this:

  

   

  Step 2 - Create the Form

  1. Select File | Reporting | New | Form Report to open the Form Editor.

  2. If the Edit window is open, select View | Edit Window to close it giving you more screen space.

  3. Maximize the Form Editor.

  4. Size the form so that it properly houses the content of your file.

  5. Add any other objects as desired. In the example form used for this topic, a Close Form button was added with the following properties:

     • Text = "Close Form"

     • ButtonType = OK

  When you click the button, the form closes.

  Step 3 - Insert the OLE Object

  1. From the Object Bar, click the OLE Object icon. Drag the object so that it fits the entire form except for a half inch margin on all sides. When you release the mouse button, the Insert Object dialog box opens.

  2. Select the Create from File option.

  3. In the File box, either type the complete pathway to the .doc file, or use the Browse button to locate it.

  4. Select the Link check box. This maintains a link between the OLE object on your form and your .doc file, so that if you later update your instructions, PC-DMIS always uses the latest information.

  5. Click OK. The document is embedded into your form like this:

  

  6. Save the form and give it a name of your choice.

  The Insert Object dialog box is the same dialog box that appears if you choose to insert an external object into the Edit window from the Insert | Report Command | External Object menu option. If you need more information on this dialog box, consult the "Inserting External Objects" topic from the "Inserting Report Commands" section.

  Step 4 - Insert and Test the Form

  1. Select View | Edit Window to make the Edit window visible.

  2. Select Insert | Report Command | Form. Use the dialog box to select your saved form.

  3. PC-DMIS inserts a FORM/FILENAME command block into your measurement routine with a pathway to the form file:

  CS1=FORM/FILENAME = <Pathway to Form File>

  PARAM/=

  ENDFORM/

  4. Mark the command block for execution.

  5. Execute the measurement routine. When PC-DMIS reaches the FORM/FILENAME command block, it displays the form:

  

  6. Click Continue from the Execute Mode Options dialog box to close the form and resume execution.

   

• Providing Instructions Using a Microsoft PowerPoint OLE Object

  This topic demonstrates how to use a Microsoft PowerPoint file (.ppt) as an OLE object inside of a form to provide detailed slide-show type instructions to an operator.

  This topic and the steps below assume you have Microsoft PowerPoint installed on your computer.

  Step 1 - Create and Save the Instructions as a PowerPoint

  1. Create your part setup instructions inside of a PowerPoint file (.ppt).
     

  2. Save the .ppt file to a directory on your disk.

  Step 2 - Create the Form

  1. Select File | Reporting | New | Form Report to open the Form Editor.

  2. If the Edit window is open, select View | Edit Window to close it to give you more screen space.

  3. Maximize the Form Editor.

  4. Size the form so that it properly houses the content of your file.

  5. Add any other objects as desired. In the example form used for this topic, a Close the Form button was added with the following properties:

     • Text = "Close the Form"

     • ButtonType = OK

  When you click the button, the form closes.

  Step 3 - Insert the OLE Object

  1. From the Object Bar, click the OLE Object icon. Drag the object so that it fits the entire form, except for a half inch margin on all sides. When you release the mouse button, the Insert Object dialog box appears.

  2. Select the Create from File option.

  3. In the File box, either type the complete pathway to the .ppt file, or use the Browse button to locate it.

  4. Select the Link check box. This maintains a link between the OLE object on your form and your .ppt file, so that if you later update your instructions, PC-DMIS always uses the latest information.

  5. Click OK. The PowerPoint file is embedded into your form.
     

  6. Save the form and give it a name of your choice.

  The Insert Object dialog box is the same dialog box that appears if you choose to insert an external object into the Edit window from the Insert | Report Command | External Object menu option. If you need more information on this dialog box, consult the "Inserting External Objects" topic from the "Inserting Report Commands" section.

  Step 4 - Insert and Test the Form

  1. Select View | Edit Window to make the Edit window visible.

  2. Select Insert | Report Command | Form to show the Insert Form dialog box.

  3. Use the Insert Form dialog box to select your saved form.

  4. Click Open.

  5. PC-DMIS inserts a FORM/FILENAME command block into your measurement routine with a pathway to the form file.

  CS1=FORM/FILENAME= <Pathway to Form File>

  PARAM/=

  ENDFORM/

  6. Mark the command block for execution.

  7. Execute the measurement routine. When PC-DMIS reaches the FORM/FILENAME command block, it displays the form and the embedded PowerPoint presentation.
     

  

  8. Double-click on the embedded presentation. The Microsoft PowerPoint software launches and displays the presentation. When it finishes, PowerPoint also closes.

  9. Click Continue from the Execute Mode Options dialog box to close the form and resume execution.