Cell Selection Mode

The most convenient method for inserting relative and absolute cell references is to use cell selection mode. For more information, see Cell References - Relative/Absolute.

In cell selection mode, cell references are created by clicking cells directly in the spreadsheet; providing a means to visually select a cell, rather than having to remember if the Blob count was contained in cell G67 or cell D25, for example.

Invoke Cell Selection Mode

By clicking either the Relative Reference button or the Absolute Reference button, cell selection mode can be invoked from any of the following:

When in cell selection mode, the display temporarily switches into a unique view of the In-Sight spreadsheet where the image is not visible beneath the spreadsheet and an expandable rectangle with a red outline represents the cell(s) to be referenced.

Establish a Cell Reference

  1. Choose the cell(s) to reference. One or more cells may be selected with either the mouse or the keyboard. To select multiple cells with the mouse, click and drag across any cells to reference. Using the keyboard, hold down SHIFT and press the ARROW KEYS to select a group of cells.
  2. Accept the reference. References may be accepted either by double-clicking the desired cell (for a single-cell reference) or by pressing ENTER (for referencing either single or multiple cells). Once the reference has been accepted, the display switches back to the property sheet, dialog, or spreadsheet cell from which cell selection mode was initiated.

Single-Cell Reference Example

Assume we are performing blob analysis on the image. An ExtractBlobs function, located in cell A2, produces an output in cell B2 (using the GetNFound function) that represents the number of blobs located within the image. Our goal is to display a "linked copy" of this GetNFound result inside cell A6. This new value is updated whenever the original number of blobs in cell B2 changes. By creating an absolute cell reference to cell B2 within cell A6, the two cells are synchronized.

Consider the following spreadsheet:

To create a synchronized copy of the number of located blobs (4.000) in cell A6:

  1. Highlight cell A6.
  2. From the Job Edit toolbar, click the Absolute Reference button; this invokes cell selection mode.

  3. Double-click cell B2.

    Note: In the preceding graphic, the Show parameter for the ExtractBlobs function in cell A2 was set to display both input and result graphics (for illustration purposes).

    The formula placed into cell A6 is an absolute reference to cell A2 ($A$2). Whenever the value in cell B2 changes, A6 updates accordingly.

Multiple-Cell Reference Example

Multiple-cell references can be useful on property sheets when defining parameters that have more than one value, such as fixtures and regions.

Consider the following spreadsheet:

Assume we want to be able to control the interactive graphic region (in red) during run-time operation. We can define an EditFloat control for each property of the region (X, Y, height, width, angle, and curve), as follows:

A10 = 'X

B10 = 'Y

C10 = 'Wide

D10 = 'High

E10 = 'Angle

F10 = 'Curve

A11 = EditFloat(0,480)

B11 = EditFloat(0,640)

C11 = EditFloat($B$7,$B$8)

D11 = EditFloat($B$7,$B$8)

E11 = EditFloat(0,360)

F11 = EditFloat(0,400)

The limits on the EditFloat functions (MinValue and MaxValue) were chosen arbitrarily, yet reasonably, to ensure that no errors would result from out-of-range input values to the region. Cell B7 contains 10.000, which defines the lower limit on the Wide and High values through the absolute reference $B$7 as the first argument to the EditFloat control. Similarly, cell B8 sets the upper limit of 500.000 on these controls.

  1. Highlight cell A2.

  2. Click the Function button from the Job Edit toolbar, to open the property sheet for the ExtractBlobs function:

  3. Select the Region parameter.

  4. Click the Absolute Reference button (from the Job Edit toolbar) to invoke cell selection mode. Using either the mouse or keyboard (SHIFT+ARROW KEYS), highlight cells A11 through F11 as shown:

  5. Press ENTER to accept the range.
  6. Click OK to close the property sheet. The interactive graphic region may now be adjusted through the Edit controls on the spreadsheet.