for MQTT Hyperdash V.1.03 (c) by Markus Hoffmann
MQTT Hyperdash runs so-called dash-files. Dash-files are simple text files, consisting of UTF-8 encoded ASCII text. They can be edited by any text editor, or by the special application "dashdesign" which comes with the MQTT-Hyperdash package.
dashdesign is a graphical editor for these dashboards.
The graphic editor is used to select and arrange static and dynamic elements and their assignment to MQTT parameters in a dashboard. This editor can create elements, position them individually or in groups on a dashboard, move them and provide them with various attributes (colors, fonts, line thicknesses, etc.). Active elements can be "bound" to one or more MQTT parameters. Most elements are available in different display variants (e.g. three different types of pointer instruments) and can therefore be adapted to different tasks.
It is also common to first let hddashgen generate a generic dashboard from the list of topics and then edit these dashboards with dashdesign. This way all buttons are already there and bound to the MQTT topics and one need only rearrange them so that the dashboard looks nicer and serves more the specific needs of the operators.
A typical work-flow may be:
- File -> Load ... a .dash file or
- File -> New create a new one.
- Element -> select an element you want to place to the workspace
- Drag with the mouse where that should go
- If you need to move it: Action -> Move Element
- If you need to change any properties of an element: Edit --> Edit Properties ... and click on an element to edit.
You can change the Broker: Edit -> Edit Broker ..., or the Colors Action -> Set Colors, or topic or font the same way.
When done, you can save the .dash file and run it with File -> Run Dashboard.
Maybe instead of placing individual base elements one by one, you can try out the Element groups collection by selecting Groups -> something
All this is designed to be easy to use. If you cannot find out how to change some special properties, you will always have the option to save the .dash file, open it with your favorite text editor, change something (reading the MQTT-Hyperdash file format specification ), save it and open it again in dashdesign to see the result.
If you want to move or copy a group of elements, you can place a COMPOUND element on top of the group. By moving the compound, all elements fitting inside the compound area will move together.