# Graphical Panel Controls: Meter Meter controls display data using a meter face. The actual numeric value of the signal linked to the control is shown at the bottom, while the needle points to a representation of the current value in a manner similar to that of an automobile gauge (Figure 1). The range of displayed values is controlled through custom settings. ![Figure 1: Two example Meter controls in legacy mode showing how data is displayed both numerically and graphically.](/files/74dCaVoavkF5ILuoqTg9) Table 1 lists the properties specific to the Meter control. A list of common properties can be found under [Common Control Properties](/vspy-3-documentation/vehicle-spy-main-menus/main-menu-measurement/graphical-panels/graphical-panels-tools/graphical-panel-controls-common-control-properties.md). **Table 1: Meter-Specific Properties** | Property | Function and Options | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `Minimum` | Sets the bottom end of the range of values that can be displayed on the meter; lower signal values will "peg" the needle at the minimum value. | | `Maximum` | Sets the top end of the range of values that can be displayed on the meter; higher signal values will "peg" the needle at the maximum value. | | `NeedleColor` | Sets the color of the meter needle. Double-click to launch the Windows color picker dialog box. | | `Angle` | Specifies the total sweep span of the meter arc in degrees (30–345 when `LegacyMode` is No; 30–180 when `LegacyMode` is Yes). | | `LegacyMode` | When set to **Yes**, the meter uses the original semicircle rendering style. When set to **No**, full rendering control is enabled and the additional properties below become available. Defaults to **Yes**. | ## `LegacyMode = No` Properties When `LegacyMode` is set to **No**, the meter uses a fully configurable rendering engine. Figure 2 shows a baseline example with default settings. ![Figure 2: A Meter control with LegacyMode = No and default settings.](/files/PIcViURMAgVvEgF1OR2K) ### Angle and Position | Property | Function and Options | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `StartAngle` | The angle at which the meter arc begins, in degrees. Uses the standard GDI+ convention: 0° is East (3 o'clock), increasing clockwise. Default is 210°. | 💡 **Negative `StartAngle` values are supported.** For example, -90° is equivalent to 270° (12 o'clock / North). Figure 3 shows the effect of different `StartAngle` combinations. From left to right, `StartAngle` is 90°, 180°, 270°. ![Figure 3: Three meters with the same Angle but different StartAngle values (90°, 180°, 270°).](/files/WWAiIkv9xray71SpCKYU) ### Appearance | Property | Function and Options | | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `ShowValue` | When set to **Yes** (default), the current signal value is displayed as text at the bottom of the control. Set to **No** to hide it. | | `FullCircle` | When set to **Yes**, the meter background is drawn as a full circle instead of a pie slice. Tick marks, the needle, and start/span angles are unaffected. | | `FaceColor` | Sets the fill color of the meter face. Double-click to launch the Windows color picker dialog box. | | `FaceColorAlpha` | Sets the transparency of the meter face fill, from 0 (fully transparent) to 255 (fully opaque). | Figure 4 shows `FullCircle = No` (left) versus `FullCircle = Yes` (right). ![Figure 4: FullCircle = No (left) versus FullCircle = Yes (right) with the same needle position and sweep.](/files/vHF1v1vikJTGx7l7YPF1) Figure 5 shows the effect of `FaceColor` and `FaceColorAlpha`. Both meters have a yellow background and a red face. The meter on the left has `FaceColorAlpha = 64` (partially transparent), while the meter on the right has `FaceColorAlpha = 255` (completely opaque). ![Figure 5: Two meters demonstrating FaceColor with low alpha (left) and high alpha (right).](/files/VUexnapGZYRnZz3zH362) ### Tick Marks | Property | Function and Options | | ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `MajorTicks` | When set to **Yes** (default), major tick marks are drawn on the meter arc. | | `MajorTicksCount` | The number of major tick marks displayed, from 2 to 20. Default is 5. | | `MajorTickLength` | The length of major tick marks as a fraction of the meter radius, from 0.05 to 1.0. Default is 0.3. | | `MajorTickWidth` | The pen width of major tick marks in pixels, from 0.5 to 10.0. Default is 1.0. | | `MinorTicks` | When set to **Yes** (default), minor tick marks are drawn between major ticks. | | `MinorTicksPerInterval` | The number of minor tick marks between each pair of major ticks, from 0 to 10. Default is 1. | | `MinorTickLength` | The length of minor tick marks as a fraction of the meter radius, from 0.05 to 1.0. Default is 0.2. | | `MinorTickWidth` | The pen width of minor tick marks in pixels, from 0.5 to 10.0. Default is 1.0. | Figure 6 illustrates tick mark combinations: major ticks only (top left), minor ticks only (top right), both enabled (bottom left), and both disabled (bottom right). In all cases, `MajorTickWidth = 3`, and `MinorTicksPerInterval = 3`. ![Figure 6: Four meters showing combinations of MajorTicks and MinorTicks enabled and disabled.](/files/tsars1nVzYrG8RuxBfet) ### Tick Labels | Property | Function and Options | | ------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `TickLabels` | When set to **Yes** (default **No**), numeric value labels are drawn at each major tick mark. | | `TickLabelOffset` | Adjusts the radial distance between the meter arc and the tick labels, in pixels (-200 to 200). | | `TickLabelDecimals` | The number of decimal places shown in tick labels, from 0 to 15. Default is 3. | 💡 Positive `TickLabelOffset` values move labels outward; negative values move them inside the gauge arc. Default is 4. | Figure 7 shows two meters each with `TickLabels = Yes`. One has the default positive `TickLabelOffset` (outside the arc, left) and the other has a negative offset (inside the arc, right). In both cases, `TickLabelDecimals = 0` and `FullCircle = Yes`. ![Figure 7: Tick labels with a positive TickLabelOffset (left) and a negative TickLabelOffset placing labels inside the arc (right).](/files/13vcpeTnmrMBp4xfWS7t) ### Colored Arcs Up to three independent colored arcs can be drawn over the meter face to highlight value zones such as normal, caution, and critical ranges. 💡 **An arc is hidden when its start and end values are equal**. | Property | Function and Options | | ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `Arc1Color` | Sets the color of the first colored range arc. Double-click to launch the Windows color picker dialog box. | | `Arc1StartValue` | The value at which the first range arc begins. | | `Arc1EndValue` | The value at which the first range arc ends. | | `Arc1Width` | The width of the first range arc in pixels, from 1 to 50. Default is 10. | | `Arc2Color` | Sets the color of the second colored range arc. | | `Arc2StartValue` | The value at which the second range arc begins. | | `Arc2EndValue` | The value at which the second range arc ends. | | `Arc2Width` | The width of the second range arc in pixels, from 1 to 50. Default is 10. | | `Arc3Color` | Sets the color of the third colored range arc. | | `Arc3StartValue` | The value at which the third range arc begins. | | `Arc3EndValue` | The value at which the third range arc ends. | | `Arc3Width` | The width of the third range arc in pixels, from 1 to 50. Default is 10. | Figure 8 shows a meter with all three arcs configured as green, yellow, and red zones. This meter also has a negative `TickLabelOffset` and `FullCircle = Yes`. ![Figure 8: A meter with three colored arcs representing normal (green), caution (yellow), and critical (red) value zones.](/files/7dx2vb0mAIDUsj3VlePY) --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.intrepidcs.com/vspy-3-documentation/vehicle-spy-main-menus/main-menu-measurement/graphical-panels/graphical-panels-tools/graphical-panel-controls-meter.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. 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