WebBrowser

WebBrowser

The WebBrowser is a control object that allows you to display web pages directly within your SCADA project’s Runtime screen, without the need for an external browser (e.g., Chrome, Edge).

This is a powerful tool for enabling operators to access the interfaces of other devices on the network or internet resources without leaving the SCADA application.

Common Use Cases
  • IP Camera Feeds: Displaying the web interface of a live video stream (M-JPEG, RTSP interface, etc.) from an IP camera on the network.
  • Device Interfaces: Viewing the built-in web server (Web GUI) of a PLC, network switch, or other smart devices (e.g., energy analyzers).
  • HTML Reports: Displaying local HTML-based reports or help files generated by the system.
  • External Information: Showing external websites relevant to the operator (e.g., weather forecasts, raw material prices).

Properties Panel – Key Properties

Value

  • Tag:
    • Function: This is a two-way link connecting the web address (URL) currently displayed by the browser to a String tag.
    • Read: If the linked tag (e.g., PLC_Web_URL_Tag) is changed to “
    • http://192.168.1.10″ by a script, the browser automatically navigates to that address.
    • Write: If the operator clicks a link inside the browser to navigate to a different page, the PLC_Web_URL_Tag is updated with this new URL.

Advanced Panel – Key Properties

This panel determines the security and appearance of the object.

Url The default web address to be loaded when the screen opens (e.g., http://192.168.1.200/stream.mjpg or C:\Reports\help.html).

  • ScriptErrorsSuppressed
    • Prevents constant error pop-ups from appearing on the operator’s screen if there is a JavaScript error on the displayed web page (e.g., within a PLC interface).
  • AllowNavigation
    • True (Default): Allows the operator to navigate to other pages by clicking links within the page.
    • False: Locks the object. It displays only the page specified in the Url property; even if links are clicked, navigation does not occur. (Ideal for IP camera displays).
  • IsWebBrowserContextMenuEnabled
    • Recommended for SCADA: False.
    • Prevents the operator from right-clicking to use options such as “Save As,” “Print,” or “View Source.”
  • WebBrowserShortcutsEnabled
    • Recommended for SCADA: False.
    • Disables keyboard shortcuts such as Ctrl+P (Print) or F5 (Refresh).
  • ScrollBarsEnabled
    • Determines whether scrollbars appear if the page content does not fit within the object’s dimensions.

Common Usage Examples

Example: Displaying a Static IP Camera Feed

To show a camera stream for monitoring purposes only, without allowing operator intervention.

  1. Add a WebBrowser to the screen.
  2. Go to the Advanced panel:
  • Url: Enter the camera’s video stream address (e.g., http://192.168.0.101/video.cgi).
  • ScriptErrorsSuppressed: True
  • AllowNavigation: False (Prevent clicking links in the camera interface).
  • IsWebBrowserContextMenuEnabled: False (Disable the right-click menu).
  • WebBrowserShortcutsEnabled: False

Result: When the screen opens, the WebBrowser object directly shows the camera stream, and the operator cannot navigate away from this page.

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