WinCC Explorer VBScript Object-Based Practice Lab Manual

How to Use This Manual

Each of the six exercises below follows the same repeatable workflow used throughout Softwell's WinCC Explorer training: create the supporting Internal Tags, place and name the graphic object, open the correct Properties/Event node, attach a VBScript action or dynamic, paste the code, and test in Runtime.

Object names given in each exercise match the tag and object references used inside the VBScript code, so trainees can copy the code directly without editing variable or object names.

Exercise Overview

Exercise 1: Motor Start/Stop with Interlock

Object Type: Button (Standard Object → Button)

Object Name: Motor_Start_Button

Event / Property Path: Properties → Events → Mouse → Mouse Click

Step 1 — Create Internal Tags

Step 2 — Create Object & Attach Script

Step 3 — VBScript Code (OnClick_MotorStart)

Sub OnClick_MotorStart()
Dim faultStatus, motorRunning
faultStatus   = HMIRuntime.Tags("Motor_Fault").Read()
motorRunning  = HMIRuntime.Tags("Motor_Running").Read()
If faultStatus = 1 Then
HMIRuntime.Trace "Cannot start: Motor fault active" & vbCrLf
MsgBox "Motor Fault Active! Reset before starting.", _
vbCritical, "Interlock"
ElseIf motorRunning = 1 Then
HMIRuntime.Trace "Motor already running" & vbCrLf
Else
HMIRuntime.Tags("Motor_Cmd_Start").Write(1)
HMIRuntime.Trace "Motor Start command issued" & vbCrLf
End If
End Sub

Exercise 2: Indicator Lamp Color Change (Dynamic Property)

Object Type: Circle / Rectangle (Standard Object → Circle)

Object Name: Motor_Status_Lamp

Event / Property Path: Properties → Colors → Background Color → right-click → Dynamic (VBScript)

Step 1 — Create Internal Tags

Step 2 — Create Object & Attach Script

Step 3 — VBScript Code (Dynamic Background Color)

Dim runStatus, faultStatus
runStatus   = HMIRuntime.Tags("Motor_Running").Read()
faultStatus = HMIRuntime.Tags("Motor_Fault").Read()
Select Case True
Case faultStatus = 1
Me.BackColor = RGB(255, 0, 0)      ' Red - Fault
Case runStatus = 1
Me.BackColor = RGB(0, 255, 0)      ' Green - Running
Case Else
Me.BackColor = RGB(192, 192, 192)  ' Gray - Stopped/Idle
End Select

Exercise 3: Blinking Alarm Lamp

Object Type: Circle (Standard Object → Circle), driven by a separate Global Script action

Object Name: Alarm_Blink_Lamp

Event / Property Path: Global Script → Actions → New Action → VBScript, Cyclic Trigger 500 ms

Step 1 — Create Internal Tags

Step 2 — Create Object & Attach Script

Step 3 — VBScript Code (BlinkAlarmLamp)

Sub BlinkAlarmLamp()
Static blinkState
If HMIRuntime.Tags("Alarm_Active").Read() = 1 Then
blinkState = Not blinkState
HMIRuntime.Tags("Lamp_Blink_Out").Write(CInt(blinkState))
Else
HMIRuntime.Tags("Lamp_Blink_Out").Write(0)
End If
End Sub

Exercise 4: Screen Navigation Button with Login Check

Object Type: Button (Standard Object → Button)

Object Name: NavButton_Tank

Event / Property Path: Properties → Events → Mouse → Mouse Click

Step 1 — Create Internal Tags

Step 2 — Create Object & Attach Script

Step 3 — VBScript Code (OnClick_OpenTankScreen)

Sub OnClick_OpenTankScreen()
Dim currentUser
currentUser = HMIRuntime.Tags("@CurrentUser").Read()
If currentUser = "" Then
MsgBox "Please log in to access this screen.", vbExclamation, "Access Denied"
Else
HMIRuntime.BaseScreenName = "Tank_Overview.pdl"
HMIRuntime.Trace "Navigated to Tank_Overview by " & currentUser & vbCrLf
End If
End Sub

Exercise 5: Valve Toggle with Confirmation Popup

Object Type: Circle / Symbol Object (Standard Object → Circle, styled as a valve symbol)

Object Name: Valve_Object

Event / Property Path: Properties → Events → Mouse → Mouse Click

Step 1 — Create Internal Tags

Step 2 — Create Object & Attach Script

Step 3 — VBScript Code (OnClick_ToggleValve)

Sub OnClick_ToggleValve()
Dim valveState, response
valveState = HMIRuntime.Tags("Valve1_Status").Read()
response = MsgBox("Confirm valve " & IIf(valveState = 1, "CLOSE", "OPEN") & "?", _
vbYesNo + vbQuestion, "Valve Confirmation")
If response = vbYes Then
Select Case valveState
Case 0
HMIRuntime.Tags("Valve1_Cmd").Write(1)
Case 1
HMIRuntime.Tags("Valve1_Cmd").Write(0)
Case Else
HMIRuntime.Trace "Valve1_Status: undefined state" & vbCrLf
End Select
End If
End Sub
Function IIf(cond, tPart, fPart)
If cond Then IIf = tPart Else IIf = fPart
End Function

Exercise 6: Tank Fill Bar Level Animation

Object Type: Rectangle (Standard Object → Rectangle, styled as a vertical fill bar)

Object Name: Tank_FillBar

Event / Property Path: Properties → Geometry → Height → right-click → Dynamic (VBScript)

Step 1 — Create Internal Tags

Step 2 — Create Object & Attach Script

Step 3 — VBScript Code (Dynamic Height)

Dim level, maxHeight
level = HMIRuntime.Tags("Tank_Level").Read()
maxHeight = 200   ' pixels, matches full-tank graphic height
If level < 0 Then level = 0
If level > 100 Then level = 100
Me.Height = (level / 100) * maxHeight