# Create diagnostics lists

At run time the diagnostics list displays messages to give the operator information about system activity:

- Information messages, such as messages about tag assignments, tag read and write activity, and macro usage.
- Warning messages.
- Error messages, such as messages about communication errors, invalid values, and unassigned controls.

When you create your project, the application creates a default graphic display called [DIAGNOSTICS] that contains a diagnostics list. The display also contains buttons for scrolling through the list, clearing messages, and closing the list.

You can use the [DIAGNOSTICS] display as is, or modify the appearance of the diagnostics list and buttons in the display. Or, you can create your own graphic display containing a diagnostics list and buttons that you create.

If you set up your own graphic display, use an On Top display, otherwise an error will be generated when the runtime application is created. You can also select the Cannot Be Replaced option. This means that, when a message occurs, your display will open on top of the current display, and will remain open until the operator closes it. You can use the diagnostics buttons with the diagnostics list object. You can also use all of the key buttons except Move Left, Move Right, Backspace, and Enter.

Tip: | Specify the graphic display to use for diagnostics messages, and the types of messages to display, in the Diagnostics Setup editor. You can configure the display to open automatically whenever a new message occurs, using the options in the Diagnostics Setup editor. Or, you can create a goto display button that the operator can press to open the display containing the Diagnostics list. You can place a diagnostics list on any display in the project, not just on a diagnostics display.

## To create a diagnostics list

1. In the Graphics Display editor, select Advanced > Diagnostics from the Objects menu, then choose Diagnostics List.
2. Drag the mouse to position and draw a rectangle the general size and location you want the list to be.
3. Double-click the list to open its Properties dialog box.
4. In the Properties dialog box, specify how the list looks.

## See also

How the diagnostics list works at run time

Set up how the diagnostics list looks