HMI Project Comparison Interface With Visual Difference Highlighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HMI development support devices only allow for the display and editing of a single HMI project, making it difficult to compare multiple projects and perform detailed comparisons, especially in a multi-window configuration.
Innovation Solution
The HMI development support device includes a comparison processing unit that visually highlights differences between a reference and an edited HMI project for each attribute value, with a merge processing unit that selectively merges attribute values while securely restoring previous values if needed, allowing for easy comparison and merging of HMI projects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If only one HMI project is displayed and edited at a time, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation for comparing multiple projects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The comparison function is segmented into two independent project loading capabilities, allowing simultaneous display and comparison of a current HMI project and a reference HMI project without increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
A reference project management mechanism is introduced as an intermediary, enabling users to load and compare against a stored reference project while maintaining the original single-project editing workflow
2Measurement precision
If HMI projects are displayed separately in multi-window configuration, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of difference detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The display interfaces of two separate HMI projects are merged into a unified comparison view, allowing simultaneous visualization and direct comparison of multiple projects within a single integrated interface
Solution Approach 2:
Manual visual comparison between separate windows is replaced by an automated comparison mechanism that systematically detects and highlights differences between project elements
3Measurement precision
If detailed comparison of HMI project items is implemented, then the measurement precision of comparison is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The comparison interface applies different display qualities to different elements: matched elements are displayed normally while unmatched elements are highlighted with special markers, allowing users to quickly focus on differences without being overwhelmed by all project details
Data Source
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AI summary
A plurality of HMI projects is easily compared. A HMI development support device includes a calculation unit (11) and a display unit (14). A HMI editing program (210) is stored in a storage unit (12), and by executing this program, the calculation unit (11) functions as a HMI editing unit. The HMI editing unit performs editing of a HMI project. The display unit (14) displays an editing screen of the HMI project. The HMI editing unit has a comparison processing unit which forms a comparison screen for comparing a reference HMI project and the HMI project being edited, and displays the comparison screen on the display unit (14). On the comparison screen, the comparison processing unit highlights differences between the reference HMI project and the HMI project being edited.