from the "down and dirty" department ...
Dallas,
maybe I'm missing something here ... but if all you want to do is test out your graphics, etc. there is another way ... start out by putting a temporary "numeric input" device on the screen ... then test run the program and change the number ... if the input's tag is the same as (for example) a tank level signal, then the tank graphic will fill and drain to correspond with the number you enter ...
get fancier by putting a temporary slider on the screen and use it to manipulate the tag value ... this is usually easier than constantly typing in new values ... even better, since these are "temporary" fixtures anyway, just leave both items on the screen ... now you can make big changes or fine adjustments ... and monitor the exact value in the tag at the same time ...
finally, look at the way the tag values are manipulated to animate the graphics in the "samples" application ... for example: look at how the little cars are continuously moved through the automotive plant ... go into the edit mode and take the graphics apart to see how they work ... hint: poke around in the "derived tags" section at the bottom of the project tree ... you can use these same techniques to "animate" your own graphics for testing purposes ...
it's been a long time since I've looked for it, but there used to be a little "animator" type program that got installed with RSView ... I think the icon was under utilities or something like that ... if that's still available, you might try using it to animate your tags ... frankly I always found it a lot easier to just "roll my own" by using the techniques I outlined above for my tests ...
basic idea: you don't need any other program besides RSView to test the operation of the graphics in your project ... at least not until you get around to testing out the "communications" aspect of your application ...
think of it this way: to test out your graphics, you just want the value in a tag to change ... you can do that without using a PLC or any other program ...
PS ... and congratulations to Ken on reaching his historic "1000 posts" milestone ...