23. The object entity of claim 22 , wherein the computer-readable medium comprises a plurality of memory storage devices, such that the graphics portion, the parameters portion, the navigation portion, and the simulation portion are not stored on a single memory storage device.
22. An object entity stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium within an object oriented programming environment for programming functionality for use with a user interface system for a process control system, the object entity comprising: a graphics portion defining graphics for a depiction of a process element via the user interface; a parameters portion identifying configurable aspects of the graphics; and a navigation portion identifying data sources for content to be displayed in connection with the graphics; and a simulation portion defining a method to be implemented to simulate the on-line operation of the process element; wherein the graphics portion, the parameters portion, the navigation portion, and the simulation portion are stored in the computer-readable medium discretely; and wherein the object entity within the object oriented programming environment operates to depict both on-line and simulation operation of the process element that includes displaying data calculated from the simulation via the depiction of the process element in connection with the graphics.