# Add an ActiveX control to a graphic display

You may need to add an ActiveX control to a graphic display.

## To add an ActiveX control to a graphic display

1. In FactoryTalk View Studio, select Objects > ActiveX Control or click on the toolbar.
2. On the graphic display, drag the ActiveX tool to draw a rectangle the size you want the object to be.
3. In the Insert an ActiveX Control dialog box, select the object you want to add and click OK.

   The object is placed on the display. Depending on how the third party implemented the object, it might be a different size than the rectangle you drew.

4. To specify the object’s properties and assign tags or expressions to its connections, do one of the following:
   - Right-click the object, and then select Properties to open the object’s Properties dialog box.

     Depending on how the third party implemented the object, it might not have a Properties dialog box. If the Properties menu item is not available, use the next method.

   - Right-click the object and select Property Panel.
5. In the Properties dialog box or Properties tab of the Property Panel, specify the object’s properties.
6. (Optional) Set up the properties on the Common tab.
7. On the Connections tab, assign tags or expressions to the object’s connections.
8. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box, or click Close to close the Property Panel.

Tip: | If an ActiveX control you have installed does not appear in the Insert an ActiveX Control dialog box, the object might not be registered. Register the control using the Insert an ActiveX Control dialog box before you can add it to a graphic display. To define the properties for an ActiveX control, you can double-click the object to open its Properties dialog box or right-click the object and select Property Panel to make the changes. You can attach visibility animation to an ActiveX control by assigning a tag or expression to the object in the Animation dialog box. Configure your video adapter to show more than 256 colors to make sure that the colors of the ActiveX controls appear the same as in the original.

## See also

ActiveX control

Insert an ActiveX Control dialog box

Options in the Insert an ActiveX Control dialog box