Test control
Preparing a test
Select the desired test using the test selector in the header.
Optionally, enter an SIE data file name in the Task pane. If no name is entered, the file name defaults to the setup file name. A unique file name is assigned based on the SIE file name pattern setting defined in the Test setup. The SIE filename cannot be changed after a test run is started; however, it can be changed after the test run is stopped.
Optionally, provide a test run description in the Task pane. This information is embedded in the SIE file as metadata and cannot be changed after the test run is started. Information entered here will show in a Run description column in the Test and data control SIE data page. If no information is entered, the column will show the text No Run Description. See SIE data for more information.
Live updates
In the header by the Test selector, click Start live updates or
Stop live updates as needed to control live updates. These controls in Test configuration and Test control both control live updates. See Test setup > Live updates for more information about options.
If the test run mode is either Normal or Cyclic, start the test run by clicking on the Start icon. A running test is indicated by the yellow LED flashing rapidly in the status bar and on the device. To stop the current test run, click Stop. If the test run mode is Cyclic, this ends the automatic cyclic starting and stopping of test runs.
If the test run mode is Remote Control, both the Start and Stop icons will be disabled when the SXR configuration file is selected. Click the Enable Remote Control button located above the Start and Stop icons.
To end the remote control mode, which will typically span multiple test run starts and stops, click Disable Remote Control. If a test run is in progress, the test run will be stopped after the user confirms this action is desired.
See Remote control run mode for more information.
During the test run, the following run statistics are displayed in the Task pane:
The Display Views panel is a workspace for creating charts to display live channel data and limited test statistics while the test is running.
To create the first chart, select the desired channels from the Channels list. To add a new chart, drag a channel into an empty area of the Display Views panel. Add channels to an existing chart by dragging a channel onto the chart window or by clicking the chart window to make it the active window and selecting channels from the Channels list. To add a digital meter containing all test channels (up to the current maximum of 100), click the Show All Channels in DVM button at the top of the Channels list.
TIP
Change chart options including the default chart type and size in User preferences. Change the default chart and decimal places for each channel in the Input channels spreadsheet.
NOTE
Live display views can be configured before a test run is started and also while a test is running. When a test is running the user should pay attention to the CPU load indicator on the status bar to understand how much additional processing load is being consumed to drive the live displays. This can be significant and there is the possibility that the CPU will overload and the system will reset on error. The system is designed to preferentially disable the live displays when the CPU load is too high, but this functionality may not always work.
NOTE
The actual rendering of the live display charts is done on the client device (for example, on a PC or tablet). For most modern client devices with high processor or graphics accelerator speeds, the client device will usually not be a factor.
However, for reasons beyond the scope of this help topic, the web browser used can be a significant factor. As of the present software version, the user is strongly advised to use one of the recommended browsers. For more information, see Recommended browsers.
A related issue is anti virus software running on the client device. Using HTTPS will minimize the likelihood of anti virus software negatively impacting display capabilities. For users who are not connected to the Internet, disabling anti virus software should be considered.
The Display Views panel can contain many different display views, each with its own named tab. Different views allow for a variety of chart types, sizes, locations and channels. Display views can be created or modified at any time.
To manage views, open the views menu by clicking the menu button () or right clicking in the Display Views panel.
To change the size of a chart, double left-click in the header bar of a chart.
Shunt control allows installation and removal of shunt resistors during a test run. If the current test contains one or more applicable channels, click Shunt.... The Shunt Control dialog is presented.
To install the shunts on all applicable channels, which is every channel in the test defined using one of the Bridge sensor input modes, select one of the following shunt modes.
Normal: This mode is based on the System preferences Bridge shunt polarities parameter set unless the bridge channel is configured to use the internal shunt resistor scaling mode. In this case, the Normal mode is the polarity defined in the sensor scaling configuration.
Opposite: This mode will apply the opposite shunt polarity relative to the Normal shunt polarity for all channels where it is supported by the hardware.
Up scale: This mode will apply the Up scale (positive swing) shunt polarity for all channels where it is supported by the hardware.
Down scale: This mode will apply the Down scale (negative swing) shunt polarity for all channels where it is supported by the hardware.
NOTE
Shunt polarity is based on electrical units scaling (i.e., mV/V scaling). If the sensor scaling slope is negative, the shunt polarity in output units is in the opposite direction. For example, the Up Scale option would result in a negative swing in the output data.
To remove the shunts, select Remove shunt.
All shunt resistors are removed at the start of a new test.
NOTE
The Shunt Control dialog can remain open while navigating the web application and closes automatically at the end of the test run. (It is also closed if the web browser is reloaded or refreshed.)
Interactive triggers provide a means to manually trigger computed channels and Data Modes during a test run. Set up interactive triggers using one or more Interactive trigger computed channels.
If the current test contains an Interactive Trigger computed channel, click Trigger.... The Interactive triggers dialog is presented.
To change the state of a trigger, check or uncheck the box. The change is applied immediately when the box is checked or unchecked.
NOTE
The Trigger Control dialog can remain open while navigating the web application and closes automatically at the end of the test run. (It is also closed if the web browser is reloaded or refreshed.)
To get the AOX file while the SIE test is in progress, click Get AOX file.
The file is downloaded with the suffix "aox" after the test name. See Analog output channels (EHLS and EBRG) for more information.