Instrument toolbar
Hardware instruments have settings that are divided into two groups: Instrument settings, that affect all channels of the instrument and Channel settings, which only influence a specific channel.
- Instrument settings
- Channel settings
The instrument(s) opened by the Multi Channel software can be controlled in different ways. The most convenient way is to control the instruments and their channels by means of the toolbars, shown at the top of the main window.
Instruments and channels can also be controlled by means of popup menus and many settings are also accessible through hotkeys.
This page describes the instrument toolbar. For configuring the channels, visit the page about the Channel toolbar.
Using the instrument toolbar
An instrument toolbar is created for each detected instrument. The instrument toolbar is fully configurable through the program settings. It shows the current settings of the instrument and allows to change all settings.
In the default setup, the instrument toolbar contains the following items:
Start/Stop button
-
The Start button is used to start continuous measurements.
-
When the measurement is running, it will change into a Stop button to stop the running
measurement.
Both actions can also be executed by hotkey S.
One shot button
When no measurement is running, the One shot button is enabled.
It can be used start a single shot measurement (hotkey O).
Auto setup button
The Auto setup button can be used to let the software quickly change several instrument
settings, to acquire stable measurements.
Use it by clicking the button or pressing its hotkey Q
(quick auto setup).
When the CTRL key is pressed while starting the auto setup, the instrument will stay in
auto setup mode.
This can be used to track changing signals.
Choose which instrument settings may be changed by auto setup in
Settings->Instruments->Auto setup.
Measure mode button
The measure mode button can be used to switch between block- and
streaming mode.
Switching the measure mode requires the instrument to be stopped measuring.
Instrument identification
This item displays the instrument name as well as its serial number,
which is a unique number in your measuring instrument.
By using the serial numbers as the instrument ID, it is clear which of the instruments you
are controlling.
Clicking the instrument ID will show a popup menu with all instrument settings.
Record length + Sample frequency + Resolution
In this item, information concerning the current sample frequency,
record length and the resolution is shown.
Settings can be adjusted through popup menus by clicking on the text labels.
Time out + Trigger source
When using an instrument that supports triggering, the
trigger timeout and trigger source
of the measuring instrument are also shown.
Settings can be adjusted through popup menus by clicking on the text labels.
Presamples knob
The pre samples turning knob controls the pre and post
samples ratio.
By default, no pre samples are used and it is set to 0%.
Dragging it up and down adjusts the knob, a hovering readout displays the current setting.
Right clicking it shows a popup menu with predefined settings and a user defined setting.
Other controls that can be placed on the instrument toolbar are:
Sample frequency
The sample frequency readout shows the current sampling frequency.
Clicking the readout shows a popup menu with available sample frequencies.
Increase/decrease sampling frequency
Two buttons are available to increase or decrease the sample frequency:
-
Decrease the sample frequency one step (hotkey F3).
-
Increase the sample frequency one step (hotkey F4).
The steps that are taken are the sample frequencies that are available in the sample frequency menu of the instrument. When a user defined sample frequency was selected, each subsequent click on one of these buttons will double or halve the sample frequency.
Record length
The record length readout shows the current record length.
Clicking the readout shows a popup menu with available record lengths.
Increase/decrease record length
Two buttons are available to increase or decrease the record length:
Decrease the record length one step (
Increase the record length one step (The steps that are taken are the record lengths that are available in the record length menu of the instrument. When a user defined record length was selected, each subsequent click on one of these buttons will double or half the record length.
Resolution
The resolution readout shows the current resolution.
Clicking the readout shows a popup menu with available resolutions.
Increase/decrease resolution
Two buttons are available to increase or decrease the resolution:
-
Decrease the resolution one step.
-
Increase the resolution one step.
The steps that are taken are the resolutions that are available in the resolution menu of the instrument.
Increase/decrease pre trigger percentage
Two buttons are available to increase or decrease the pre trigger percentage:
Decrease the pre trigger percentage with 2.5%
(
Increase the pre trigger percentage with 2.5%
(Oscilloscope time/div
The oscilloscope time/div readout shows the current time/div setting
as if the instrument is used as oscilloscope.
Clicking the readout shows a popup menu with available time/div settings.
Increase/decrease oscilloscope time/div
Two buttons are available to increase or decrease the oscilloscope time/div:
-
Decrease the time/div one step.
-
Increase the time/div one step.
The steps that are taken are the time/div settings that are available in the time/div menu.
Increase/decrease oscilloscope time resolution
Two buttons are available to increase or decrease the oscilloscope time resolution:
-
Decrease the time resolution one step.
-
Increase the time/div one step.
An oscilloscope measurement has a record length and a sample frequency. This gives a total measuring time. With each subsequent click on one of these buttons, the record length and sample frequency are respectively halved or doubled. The total measuring time remains equal, but the time resolution will decrease or increase.
Trigger now!
Force the instrument to trigger now
(hotkey space bar).
Predefined trigger time out settings
Three buttons are available to set the trigger time out:
Set the trigger time out to zero (
Set the trigger time out to 1 second (
Set the trigger time out to infinite (