Pages

Output Format

Output Format is a display element that takes a value from a connected data source — a PLC tag, runtime variable, or script output — and renders it using a defined format string.

Instead of showing the raw value as-is, you control exactly how it appears: how many decimal places, whether large numbers are abbreviated, what date and time structure is used, and so on. Like other output elements, it is read-only and connects to data via a Connection String.

Key Features

  • Numeric formatting: thousands grouping, decimal places (fixed or optional), zero-padding, abbreviations (k / m / b), ordinal output, signed values, and accounting-style negative notation
  • Date and time formatting: individual tokens for year, month, day, weekday, hour, minute, second, timezone offset, and localized shorthand formats
  • Connects to any available data point via a Connection String
  • Read-only — purely for value presentation, no user interaction

Usage

Use Output Format when:

  • You want to display a PLC tag or sensor value with a specific number of decimal places rather than the raw tag output
  • A large counter or accumulated value (total units, runtime hours) needs to be readable at a glance on a dashboard panel
  • A timestamp from the runtime should appear as a structured date that an operator can read — not a raw number
  • You need consistent formatting across several display elements on the same page (e.g. the same decimal width or the same date pattern throughout)
  • You want to show a value with its sign visible at all times, such as a deviation or offset from a setpoint

Example

A production interface might use Output Format to display a piece counter as 1,234 instead of 1234.0, or a runtime timestamp as Wed 04 Sep 14:23 instead of a raw Unix value. You enter the format string in the property panel and connect the element to the relevant PLC tag via Connection String — the formatting is applied automatically as values update.

The tables below list the supported format patterns for both numeric values and date/time values.

Number Format

Numeric format strings follow the Numeral.js pattern syntax. The format is entered in the element's property panel. For more detail you can visit → Numeral.js

Number Format Output
10000 0,0.000 10,000.000
10000.23 0,0 10,000
10000.23 +0,0 +10,000
-10000 0,0.0 -10,000.0
10000.1234 0.000 10000.123
100.1234 00000 00100
1000.1234 000000,0 001,000
10 000.00 010.00
10000.1234 0[.]00000 10000.12340
-10000 (0,0.0000) (10,000.0000)
-0.23 .00 -.23
-0.23 (.00) (.23)
0.23 0.00000 0.23000
0.23 0.0[0000] 0.23
1230974 0.0a 1.2m
1460 0 a 1 k
-104000 0 a -104k
1 0o 1st
100 0o 100th

Date & Time Format

Date and time format strings use Moment.js token syntax. Tokens are case-sensitive and can be combined freely in a single format string — for example, DD/MM/YYYY HH:mm:ss to display a full timestamp in the format an operator expects. For more details you can visit → Moment.js

Month

Token Output
M 1 2 ... 11 12
Mo 1st 2nd ... 11th 12th
MM 01 02 ... 11 12
MMM Jan Feb ... Nov Dec
MMMM January February ... November December

Day of Month

Token Output
D 1 2 ... 30 31
Do 1st 2nd ... 30th 31st
DD 01 02 ... 30 31

Year

Token Output
YY 70 71 ... 29 30
YYYY 1970 1971 .... 2029 2030
YYYYYY -001970 -001971 ... +001971 (extended range)
Y 1970 ... 9999 +10000 (ISO 8601)

Hour

Token Output
H 0 1 ... 22 23
HH 00 01 ... 22 23
h 1 2 ... 11 12
hh 01 02 ... 11 12
k 1 2 ... 23 24
kk 01 02 ... 23 24

Minute

Token Output
m 0 1 .... 58 59
mm 00 01 ... 58 59

Second

Token Output
s 0 1 ... 58 59
ss 00 01 ... 58 59
HH:mm:ss
DD/MM/YYYY
Wed 04 Sep 14:23
1234.0
1,234