HMI screen layout principles in SCADA systems - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to set the primary color for the HMI screen background.

SCADA systems

screen.backgroundColor = '[1]';

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Ablue

Byellow

Cgreen

Dred

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Choosing bright colors like red or yellow for background causes eye strain.

The background color is set to green to ensure a calm and clear visual for operators.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to align the main status indicator to the top-right corner.

SCADA systems

statusIndicator.position = '[1]';

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Atop-right

Bbottom-left

Ccenter

Dbottom-right

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Placing the indicator at bottom corners reduces visibility.

The status indicator is placed at the top-right corner for quick visibility.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to ensure the alarm text is readable with proper font size.

SCADA systems

alarmText.fontSize = '[1]';

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A5px

B12px

C8px

D3px

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using too small font sizes makes alarm text unreadable.

12px font size is readable and standard for alarm texts on HMI screens.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a layout grid with 3 columns and 2 rows for controls.

SCADA systems

layoutGrid.columns = [1];
layoutGrid.rows = [2];

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A3

B4

C2

D5

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Setting too many rows or columns can clutter the screen.

The grid is set to 3 columns and 2 rows to organize controls neatly.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to define a color scheme with primary, secondary, and alert colors.

SCADA systems

colorScheme.primary = '[1]';
colorScheme.secondary = '[2]';
colorScheme.alert = '[3]';

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Ablue

Bgray

Cred

Dgreen

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using red as primary color can cause confusion and stress.

Green is used as primary for normal states, gray as secondary for neutral elements, and red for alerts.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of grouping related items together on an HMI screen?

easy

A. To make the screen look more complex

B. To make the screen easier to understand and use

C. To increase the number of buttons

D. To use more colors on the screen

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand grouping concept

   Grouping related items helps users find information quickly and reduces confusion.

2. Step 2: Consider user experience

   A clear layout improves safety and efficiency by making controls intuitive.

3. Final Answer:

   To make the screen easier to understand and use -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Grouping = Easier use [OK]

Hint: Group related controls for clarity and ease [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking more colors always improve clarity
• Adding too many buttons without grouping
• Ignoring user navigation needs

2. Which of the following is the correct way to label buttons on an HMI screen?

easy

A. Use clear, descriptive text like 'Start Pump 1'

B. Use vague terms like 'Start' without context

C. Use only icons without any text

D. Use random colors without meaning

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify labeling best practice

   Clear, descriptive labels help users understand button functions immediately.

2. Step 2: Avoid vague or confusing labels

   Labels like 'Start Pump 1' are better than generic or icon-only labels for clarity.

3. Final Answer:

   Use clear, descriptive text like 'Start Pump 1' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Clear labels = Better understanding [OK]

Hint: Use clear text labels, not vague or icon-only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using unclear or generic button names
• Relying only on icons without text
• Ignoring color meaning in labels

3. Consider this HMI screen layout code snippet:

screen = {
  'title': 'Main Panel',
  'buttons': [
    {'label': 'Start', 'color': 'green'},
    {'label': 'Stop', 'color': 'red'},
    {'label': 'Reset', 'color': 'yellow'}
  ]
}

What is the main issue with this layout?

medium

A. Button colors do not match their typical meanings

B. Button labels are too descriptive

C. The screen title is missing

D. There are too many buttons

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze button colors and meanings

   Green for 'Start' matches (go/action), red for 'Stop' matches (danger/stop), but yellow for 'Reset' does not--yellow typically means caution/warning, not reset.

2. Step 2: Confirm other options

   Labels are simple (not too descriptive), title present, few buttons--issue is color mismatch.

3. Final Answer:

   Button colors do not match their typical meanings -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Colors should match meaning [OK]

Hint: Match button colors to their common meanings [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring color conventions
• Assuming more buttons are always bad
• Overlooking screen title presence

4. You notice an HMI screen is cluttered with many controls and colors. What is the best way to fix this?

medium

A. Remove all labels to save space

B. Add more colors to differentiate controls

C. Group related controls and reduce color usage

D. Increase screen brightness

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify clutter causes

   Too many controls and colors make the screen confusing and hard to use.

2. Step 2: Apply layout principles

   Grouping related controls and limiting colors improves clarity and usability.

3. Final Answer:

   Group related controls and reduce color usage -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Less clutter = Better usability [OK]

Hint: Group controls and limit colors to reduce clutter [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding more colors increases confusion
• Removing labels reduces clarity
• Changing brightness does not fix layout

5. You need to design an HMI screen for a complex system with many controls. Which approach best follows good layout principles?

hard

A. Use flashing colors to attract attention to all controls

B. Put all controls on one screen with random colors for each

C. Use only icons without labels to save space

D. Create multiple screens grouping related controls and use consistent colors

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand complexity management

   Complex systems require breaking down controls into manageable groups to avoid overwhelming users.

2. Step 2: Apply layout best practices

   Using multiple screens with grouped controls and consistent colors improves navigation and safety.

3. Step 3: Avoid poor practices

   Random colors, icon-only labels, and flashing colors cause confusion and reduce usability.

4. Final Answer:

   Create multiple screens grouping related controls and use consistent colors -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Group + consistent colors = Best design [OK]

Hint: Use multiple grouped screens with consistent colors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to fit all controls on one screen
• Using random or flashing colors
• Relying only on icons without text