The toolbar at the top of the window contains some buttons for easy access to frequently used functions. The function of the different buttons is described in the table below.

The different signal types supported by the AWG can be selected with buttons. The signal that will be at the output of the generator, is displayed. By default, no arbitrary data is loaded into the AWG. As a result only an offset is generated when 'arbitrary' is chosen. See Arbitrary data for information about loading data.

The frequency can be adjusted with the range select buttons and the scroll bar. An exact frequency value can be entered after pressing the hotkey F or after double-clicking the frequency display. The actual value is shown on the display.

By default the generator is working in DDS mode and the signal frequency is displayed. This is the frequency at which the displayed signal will be repeated. It is also possible to change the sampling frequency of the AWG directly by checking the sample frequency radio button. The generator is then working in linear mode.

In linear mode, all samples in memory are output sequentially, without skipping samples. In DDS mode some samples may be skipped to make it possible to generate the desired output frequency.

The minimum and maximum frequency will depend on the instrument.

Instrument	Signal frequency	Sample frequency
Handyscope HS3	0.1Hz - 2MHz	0.1Hz - 50MHz

The symmetry can be adjusted with the scroll bar. An exact symmetry value can be entered after pressing the hotkey S or after double-clicking the symmetry display. The actual value is shown on the display.

The symmetry range is 0% - 100%.

The amplitude can be adjusted with the scroll bar. An exact amplitude value can be entered after pressing the hotkey A or after double-clicking the amplitude display. The actual value is shown on the display.

The minimum and maximum amplitude will depend on the instrument.

Instrument	Range
Handyscope HS3	0V - 12V

The offset can be adjusted with the scroll bar. An exact offset value can be entered after pressing the hotkey O or after double-clicking the offset display. The actual value is shown on the display.

The minimum and maximum offset will depend on the instrument.

Instrument	Range
Handyscope HS3	-12V - +12V

The two buttons in the output group can be used to turn the output on or off, and to start or stop the signal.

Turn AWG on/off.

Start/stop AWG signal output.

By default, the signal will output continuously, but it is also possible to perform a burst of a certain number of periods of the signal. To perform a burst, check the "Burst" radio button and select or type the number of periods in the combo box. After pressing "Start" the burst will be generated.

Data of every source in the Multi Channel software can be loaded directly into an AWG. This means that measured data, but also processed or generated data can be put into the AWG. There are two ways to do this. One way is to drag the source onto the AWG in the object tree. The other way to get the data of a source is to drag the source onto a AWG control window.

  Note: Depending on the AWG and the data size, data may be resampled during loading.

Besides loading data from a source, it can also be loaded from a file. Currently, loading data from TiePie engineering TPS file and from Wave audio files is supported.

From a TiePie engineering TPS file, data can be read from each AWG or Source chunk in the file.

Data from Wave audio files can also be read into the AWG. If more than 1 channel (mono) is available in the file, only the first channel will be read. All uncompressed Wave audio files with a resolution of 8, 16, 32 or 64 bit are supported.

  Note: Depending on the AWG and the data size, data may be resampled during loading.

When loading data into an AWG, it is possible that the AWG does not support the data size of the loaded data. This can happen for example when the data is to big to fit into the memory of the AWG. The Handyscope HS3 has another limitation: the data size must be a power of two (2, 4 , 8, 16, ..., 262144).

When it is not possible to set the data size of the AWG to the data's size, the data will be stretched or shrunken to fit exactly into the possible data size that is closest to the requested data size.