MLab Tutorial MLab - Data Acquisition and Control Program for Windows Tutorial with example applications for MLab © 2000 by STIEGELE Datensysteme GmbH Datensysteme STIEGELE by © 2000 This manual has been prepared to the best of our knowledge. The information and data contained in these manuals are given without guarantee and may change without notice. The software described within these manuals is delivered in con- junction with a software license agreement. This documentation may not be reproduced or relayed, in part or in whole, regard- less of the manner or medium, electronically or mechanically without express writ- ten permission from the copyright owner. © Copyright 2000 by STIEGELE Datensysteme GmbH Conrad-Eberhard-Straße 5 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber Germany eMail: [email protected] Internet: www.stiegele-systems.de Author Tutorial: Emanuel Winter Trademark Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft Cor- poration in the USA and other countries. Mention of third-party products is for informational purposes only and does not represent a breach of copyright. Contents Part 1 Before getting Started ...................................................................................... 9 MLab: Overview ........................................................................................................... 10 The Facilities ................................................................................................................ 10 The Concept of this Tutorial ...................................................................................... 12 User Groups.............................................................................................................. 12 The Chapter Sequence............................................................................................... 13 Preparation: MSetup ................................................................................................... 14 Hardware Setup: Differences between Windows 95 and NT............................... 14 What you need to know before the Configuration ................................................ 15 The Base Address ........................................................................................................ 16 Input Voltage Range ................................................................................................... 16 Running MSetup ......................................................................................................... 17 Adding and Configuring the Hardware.................................................................. 18 Details on Data Recognition: I/O Address, DMA Channel etc............................ 21 Details on Data Usage: Measurement Range and Amplification......................... 22 Setting up Two Cards of the Same Type ................................................................. 25 Starting MLab for the First Time ............................................................................ 26 Input Wizard................................................................................................................ 26 Part 2 First Measurements............................................................................................ 29 Basic Setup for a Measurement ............................................................................... 30 1st. Step: Defining Hardware................................................................................... 30 Pre-setting the Hardware........................................................................................... 30 2nd. Step: Clock Source and Sampling Rate....................................................... 31 Pre-setting the Clock Source...................................................................................... 32 3rd Step: Defining Datasets...................................................................................... 33 Inserting Datasets........................................................................................................ 33 Editing Datasets........................................................................................................... 35 4th. Step: Defining Graphical Items...................................................................... 37 Inserting Graphical Objects into a Graphic Page.................................................... 39 Inserting an x(t) Diagram ........................................................................................ 40 Inserting a numerical Field (Display as Digits)....................................................... 43 Starting a Measurement ............................................................................................. 45 Possible Causes of Errors ........................................................................................... 47 The End of the Chapter .............................................................................................. 47 VI MLab - Tutorial Further Notes ...........................................................................................................48 Part 3 Monitoring.............................................................................................................51 Introduction ................................................................................................................52 1st. Example: Storage above a limit value ........................................................52 Definition of a Standard Limit Monitor ...............................................................53 2nd. Example: Bar Display with Extremity Marker......................................55 Defining a Bar Object ...........................................................................................55 Activating the Display of Extremity Markers ......................................................56 Defining a Key.......................................................................................................57 Creating a "logical (event)" Type Variable .....................................................57 Defining a "Key" Graphical Object.................................................................58 Assigning the Function to the Key........................................................................59 How these Settings Work ......................................................................................59 General Information about Variables and Action Modules .....................60 3rd Example: Display of Maximum Value in an x(t) Diagram .................62 Definition of the two Analog Variables................................................................63 Defining the "Extremity Marker" Action Module...............................................64 Defining the Graphical Display.............................................................................65 Inhibiting and Activating the Extremity Marker ................................................66 4th Example: Range Display with a Switch.....................................................67 1st Step: Defining Datasets and Variables............................................................67 Inserting a Digital Output Dataset ......................................................................68 Entering the Digital Device as an Additional Device .....................................68 Inserting the Digital Channel as a Dataset .....................................................69 2nd. Step: Setting up the Limit Monitor Module................................................71 The Information Variables of a Limit Monitor Module........................................72 3rd. Step: The Graphical Display Definition, a Switch.......................................73 Possible Causes of Errors........................................................................................74 The End of the Chapter...........................................................................................75 Notes..........................................................................................................................75 Part 4 Storing Data..........................................................................................................77 Introduction ................................................................................................................78 Standard Data File versus "Storage Module" Action Module...........................78 The Standard Data File .........................................................................................78 The "Storage Module" Action Module.................................................................78 In which File Format will Data be Stored?...........................................................79 Data Multiplexing.................................................................................................79 Storage in RMS Format ........................................................................................80 Storage in MDF Format........................................................................................80 © 2000 by STIEGELE Datensysteme GmbH Inhaltsverzeichnis VII The Examples in this Chapter ............................................................................... 81 Example 1: Storing a Test Sequence ..................................................................81 Creating a Standard Data File ..............................................................................