# How the information message display works at run time

At run time the graphic display containing the information message display object opens when the Value connection at the data source changes from zero to any non-zero value. If the value matches a message’s trigger value, the corresponding message is shown. If the non-zero value does not match any configured trigger value, question marks are displayed. The display opens on top of the current display.

If the Value connection value changes to 0, the display closes.

Tip: | Use the Information Setup editor to specify the graphic display to use for information messages, specify the file containing the messages to display, and assign the Value connection.

## What is shown

- If the Value connection is unassigned, the display never appears automatically. If the user manually goes to a graphic display containing an information message display object with an unassigned Value connection, the information message display is filled with question marks (?).
- The Value connection value is rounded up to the nearest integer. If the value does not match any of the trigger values in the specified message file, the display is filled with question marks (?).
- If the message is too long to fit in the display, the last displayed character is an asterisk (*).

## Use buttons with the information message display

The application creates a default graphic display called [INFORMATION] that contains an information message display object and these buttons:

- Ack - acknowledges the message. You can create this button in your own display using the information acknowledge button.
- Close - closes the display. You can create this button in your own display using the close display button.

If you modify the default display or create your own graphic display containing an information message display, the display might contain different buttons.

## Acknowledge messages

When the operator presses the Acknowledge button, the Ack connection is set to 1 at the data source. The value is held as long as the operator presses the button, or for the acknowledge hold time, whichever is longer. Then the connection is reset to 0. Assign the Ack connection and specify a hold time in the Information Setup editor.

Tip: | To close the display when the operator acknowledges the message, configure the data source to set the Value connection to 0 when the Ack connection is set to 1.

## See also

Create information message displays

Causes of run-time errors for the information message display

Create Information Acknowledge buttons

Create Close Display buttons