Configuring Dynamic Dialog Color Changes in WinCC Graphics Designer for Equipment Status

To configure a Static Text or equipment symbol to change color dynamically (e.g. green when a pump is running and gray when stopped) in SIMATIC WinCC Graphics Designer, use the Dynamic Dialog on the Background Color or Font Color property. In Object Properties under Colors, right-click the dynamic lightbulb for Background Color, select 'Dynamic Dialog...', set Result of Expression to 'Boolean', assign the binary run feedback tag, and define True = Green and False = Gray. Ensure the Event Trigger is configured to 'Upon change' of the tag, and verify that the object's 'Backstyle' property is set to 'Opaque' so background color changes are visible.

WinCC Graphics Dynamic Evaluation Mechanisms

In SIMATIC WinCC Graphics Designer and PCS 7 OS, graphic object properties (colors, text, visibility, coordinates) can be animated using four distinct dynamic mechanisms:

Direct Tag Connection: Binds a property directly to an analog or integer tag (e.g., bar graph levels).
Dynamic Dialog: High-performance, compiled evaluation for discrete states (Boolean, Bit, Analog Ranges) without scripting.
C-Action (ANSI-C): Programmable routines for complex algorithms or API calls.
VBS-Action (VBScript): Object-oriented scripts for string manipulation and UI dynamics.

For status color indication (such as Pump Run = Green / Stopped = Gray), the Dynamic Dialog is the officially recommended standard because it evaluates at the WinCC kernel level with near-zero CPU overhead.

Configuring Dynamic Dialog on Static Text and Symbols

Follow these steps to animate object colors in Graphics Designer:

Select the Target Object: Click the Static Text or rectangle symbol on the canvas.
Open Properties Window: Open the Properties tab and navigate to Colors.
Assign Dynamic Dialog:
- Locate Background Color (or Font Color).
- Right-click the lightbulb icon in the Dynamic column and select Dynamic Dialog....
Define Expression and States:
- In Result of Expression/Formula, select Boolean.
- In the Expression/Formula field, click the tag browser button (...) to select the pump feedback tag (e.g. 'Pump101.FbkRun.Value'). Enclose tag names in single quotes if typed manually.
- In the State Table:
- State Yes / True: Double-click the Color column and select Green (RGB 0, 255, 0).
- State No / False: Double-click the Color column and select Gray (RGB 192, 192, 192).

Trigger Configuration: Cyclic vs Event-Driven (Upon Change)

The update responsiveness and server performance depend entirely on the Trigger setting:

Cyclic Triggers (e.g. 2 s or 1 s): Poll the tag periodically. This causes visible display lag (up to 2 seconds after the pump starts) and wastes CPU cycles when states are unchanging.
Tag Trigger ('Upon change'): The dynamic dialog evaluates immediately when the controller transmits a changed value telegram. In the Dynamic Dialog dialog, click the clock icon beside Event Name / Trigger and select Upon change of the tag.

The Critical Role of the Backstyle Property

A frequent troubleshooting pitfall is configuring background colors on objects whose background is disabled:

In the object properties under Styles (or Miscellaneous), locate property Backstyle.
By default, Static Text objects often have Backstyle = Transparent (0).
If Backstyle is Transparent, WinCC does not render the background fill, making any background color animation invisible! You must set Backstyle = Opaque (1).

Comparison of WinCC Graphic Dynamic Techniques

The table below contrasts animation methods for equipment status indications:

Dynamic MethodCPU PerformanceEvaluation SpeedConfiguration ComplexityDiagnostics AvailabilityDynamic Dialog (Boolean)Highest (Kernel compiled)Instantaneous (<1 ms)Very Low (Point and click)Built-in quality code handlingDirect Tag ConnectionHighestInstantaneousLowest (Single tag binding)Automatic quality code shadingC-Action (ANSI-C)Medium (Script engine thread)Fast (~10-20 ms)High (Requires C syntax)GSC Diagnostics / apdiagVBScript ActionMedium (Single global thread)Fast (~20-50 ms)Medium (Object model scripting)GSC Diagnostics / apdiagAPL Custom Block IconOptimizedFastStandard APL templateFull status word decoding

Verification

Verify dynamic color changes in WinCC OS Runtime:

Save the graphic picture and open it in WinCC OS Runtime.
While the pump is stopped (FbkRun = 0), verify the static text background displays solid gray.
Start the pump from the controller or test variable table (FbkRun = 1); confirm the background color turns green immediately.
Simulate a communication disconnection; confirm the dynamic dialog displays the configured invalid/unconnected color (e.g. shaded gray with question mark).

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Review the following graphic engineering precautions:

Avoid High Cyclic Frequencies: Never set dynamic dialog triggers to 250 ms cyclic without justification, as hundreds of cyclic animations on a single picture will overload client CPU cores.
Quality Code Evaluation: In the Dynamic Dialog, check the option Evaluate quality code to ensure bad sensor quality does not falsely display healthy green status.
Color Standards: Follow ISA-101 and ISO 11064 ergonomic guidelines; avoid overly saturated fluorescent colors that fatigue operator vision.

Engineer FAQ

Why doesn't the background color change in runtime even though the Dynamic Dialog is configured?

Check the object's 'Backstyle' property under Styles. If Backstyle is set to 'Transparent', background colors are not drawn. Change Backstyle to 'Opaque'.

Why didn't my tag appear in the Tag Selection dialog?

Ensure the tag has been compiled from SIMATIC Manager into the OS project. If searching in Tag Management, check that filters are cleared and ensure you browse under the correct AS connection folder.

Why is 'Upon change' trigger better than '2 s cyclic'?

'Upon change' updates instantly when the controller state changes, providing immediate operator feedback while consuming zero processing power when the pump is idling.