Program that can log/control many multimeters and other devices.

[PushUp]

"TestController with different definitions/scripts"

I always thought, that this is the reason for having the 2nd place to store your own scripts with your own naming and configurations, the way you like, which cannot be overwritten and have "higher privileges" in a way, so that no other or any new TestController update is able to mess around with it?

I don't care about the main folder with all the definitions, which may or may not change with any further update, allthough I name them with each version, which I have downloaded so far from version 0.73 onwards, to keep them, when something goes wrong, for example:

/opt/TestController/TestController - 0.73/Devices/
/opt/TestController/TestController - 3.41/Devices/

...but in addition to this, I always have my own scripts, which I have adjusted/tweaked the way I like and keep them here:

/home/benchtop/TestController/Devices/

Within Windows it should be within "Documents" or so: "Windows/Users/Enterprise/Documents/TestController/Devices/"

When you don't want to scroll around, just put a number in front of your personal script within your "privileged documents folder" for any different setup or configuration you want to have - that's it!

Since I use TestController rather rarely, I also don't want to have to look for any changes just then, when I want to use it, so that this way is unproblematic for any occasional and even special usage, I guess...

[mawyatt]

Just got back, so no attempts at anything other than IM3536. See Edit above about the Current Value Display?

Trying going to the Commands tab, and click Setup. Then manually select each of the 4 parameters and see if that corrects the issue for you.

Setup doesn't keep the Parameters after entering or double clicking, just reverts back to "Off" for all 4. You can see the pull down menu with everything, but selecting doesn't keep the parameter!!

Seems something going on with Commands, Setup and Main also Measurement. None of the parameters seems work properly. Suspect this might be a Mac thing!!

Best

[Cyclotron]

I actually do not have a current use for this but the device is connected to the lab computer I use TC on and it annoyed me that it shows up in the startup and didn't see a device driver. So I made one. 

Someone might want to log coordinates vs something else because I guess somepeople may have mobile labs. 

Screen shot of values to graph from NMEA data stream.

[KungFuJosh]

Just got back, so no attempts at anything other than IM3536. See Edit above about the Current Value Display?

Trying going to the Commands tab, and click Setup. Then manually select each of the 4 parameters and see if that corrects the issue for you.

Setup doesn't keep the Parameters after entering or double clicking, just reverts back to "Off" for all 4. You can see the pull down menu with everything, but selecting doesn't keep the parameter!!

Seems something going on with Commands, Setup and Main also Measurement. None of the parameters seems work properly. Suspect this might be a Mac thing!!

Where did you install TestController to on your Mac? I wonder if it is missing privileges or something to that effect.

I'm going to try and get my MacBook to work again so I can see what happens with it.

Thanks,
Josh

[mawyatt]

Where did you install TestController to on your Mac? I wonder if it is missing privileges or something to that effect.

I'm going to try and get my MacBook to work again so I can see what happens with it.

Thanks,
Josh

Just dropped the Test Controller folder into Applications, where most of our other applications reside.

Best

[KungFuJosh]

I unzipped TC to my desktop on the crapbook pro, and it works fine.

I still don't know how to add the ST2832 on the mac, but I will see if I can figure it out.

I will try in applications also and see if there is a difference.

Are you running a recent JRE?

[KungFuJosh]

IM3570 in TC still works fine for me in the Applications folder. I'd try updating your JRE.

[KungFuJosh]

Ok, I figured out the usb serial port on Mac for the ST2832.

Open terminal, and type in:

Code: [Select]

sudo ls /dev/tty.usb*
sudo might not be necessary.
That gave me an error and listed the device:
/dev/tty.usbmodem14101

I copied that to the address section, and now my ST2832 works with TC on Mac. The same address might work for you also.

Thanks,
Josh

[mawyatt]

Just updated to latest JRE, no help, same behavior with IM3536.

Tried the TH2830 with your serial info, same result get Dummy Device Tonghui, TH2830.

Going to give up at this time, as have other pressing things to deal with.

Good news is I can "see the Hioki" and the other instruments (haven't tried them all tho, no time for that now) with TC, so not all a loss. I know they both (IM3536 & TH2830) work with remote as we've done our own custom crude interfaces with RS232 and USB on both (no LAN on IM3536 tho), but these were from a PC laptop no longer available.

Anyway, thanks for the help.

Best

[KungFuJosh]

Just updated to latest JRE, no help, same behavior with IM3536.

I dunno why. That's weird.

Tried the TH2830 with your serial info, same result get Dummy Device Tonghui, TH2830.

That just means it's the wrong port, or not configured correctly on the device. Verify USBCDC is selected on the TH2830, check port speed settings etc should match.

Then try a Terminal window when you have some time to play. Use either:
ls /dev/tty.usb*
or
ls /dev/cu.usb*

I got the error because I forgot the list command, but it got me what I needed anyway.

If you can at some point, please share your *IDN? responses from both devices.

Thanks,
Josh

[HKJ]

Is it possible to plot Allan deviation with TC? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_variance

The math looks a bit hard and I need some way to verify the results.

[HKJ]

Note that it is easy to save a list of configuration commands in TC.

1) Use the setup menus to do the configuration

2) Get the commands into the log window:


3) Edit the script as needed

4) Save the script as a menu:


Another way is to use "Save as menu and edit" first time, then TC will open the system editor with the script file and it can be edited there.

If you configure a lot of devices, checkmark "Optimize" may be a good idea, it means the script will be written to do all devices in parallel.

[HKJ]

I actually do not have a current use for this but the device is connected to the lab computer I use TC on and it annoyed me that it shows up in the startup and didn't see a device driver. So I made one. 

Someone might want to log coordinates vs something else because I guess somepeople may have mobile labs. 

Screen shot of values to graph from NMEA data stream.

I have added it (Thanks), somebody may have a use for it.

You forgot to extract the time, a very precise clock is a main feature of GPS.

[HKJ]

"TestController with different definitions/scripts"

I always thought, that this is the reason for having the 2nd place to store your own scripts with your own naming and configurations, the way you like, which cannot be overwritten and have "higher privileges" in a way, so that no other or any new TestController update is able to mess around with it?

I don't care about the main folder with all the definitions, which may or may not change with any further update, allthough I name them with each version, which I have downloaded so far from version 0.73 onwards, to keep them, when something goes wrong, for example:

/opt/TestController/TestController - 0.73/Devices/
/opt/TestController/TestController - 3.41/Devices/

That must be a very big collection of TC, I only save the source in a zip file, not the compiled version.
I hope you appreciate that I do not change the interface all the time, but try to keep it as consistent as possible.

[KungFuJosh]

@mawyatt,

Check this setting...

Thanks,
Josh

[mawyatt]

@mawyatt,

Check this setting...

Thanks,
Josh

Yep, that's the setup.

Got to run, will take a look later.

Best

[Cyclotron]

I actually do not have a current use for this but the device is connected to the lab computer I use TC on and it annoyed me that it shows up in the startup and didn't see a device driver. So I made one. 

Someone might want to log coordinates vs something else because I guess somepeople may have mobile labs. 

Screen shot of values to graph from NMEA data stream.

I have added it (Thanks), somebody may have a use for it.

You forgot to extract the time, a very precise clock is a main feature of GPS.

Sure, time added. As a time nut, I feel compelled to note that its just a very accurate time stamp of the NMEA data.
I also added a couple other data points such as fix quality, course, and geospatial separation.

I looked at adding the date but I had issues and maybe TC doesn't really have a notion of that or its most likely just me. Anyway, I ran out of time so just posting what I have for now.

[HKJ]

Sure, time added. As a time nut, I feel compelled to note that its just a very accurate time stamp of the NMEA data.
I also added a couple other data points such as fix quality, course, and geospatial separation.

I looked at adding the date but I had issues and maybe TC doesn't really have a notion of that or its most likely just me. Anyway, I ran out of time so just posting what I have for now.

Updated it, thanks.

[Cyclotron]

I added some TC stuff to my GPIB scanner and inventory system today and posted up a comment on https://bbs.xdevs.com/topic/31/prologix-gpib-address-scanner-pos/#c1

So I'm cross posting over here in case there's interest.

It simply added a column to my DB to tell me the matching TC devices configuration if there's one that matches the IDN.
This is a simple Prologix USB/Ethernet discovery and GPIB scanner to walk the bus and ID all instruments responding.  It's how I keep up with my used addresses and which bus the device is on.

Though others might find it useful to see their devices and the matches in TC. You must download and extract TC and point the POS tool to the path so it can take a peek.
https://github.com/Cyclotronic/pos
Cheers

[PushUp]

That must be a very big collection of TC, I only save the source in a zip file, not the compiled version.
I hope you appreciate that I do not change the interface all the time, but try to keep it as consistent as possible.

If you don't collect your own software, which is probably typical for "inventors" who are always striving for improvements and don't stick to the past, I searched an older hard drive to find "Version 0.40" which is probably really my first contact with TestController, in order to say thank you very much for your tireless support and providing this ingenious software for free, which is definitely not a matter of course these days!

V0.40 already contained 35 definitions, but no "size setting" for snapshots yet... 

Considering the fact, that "TestController 3.41" now contains 240 definitions shows in an impressive way, that this community is capable of extraordinary achievements, together with your help of course, HKJ! Thank you! 

[HKJ]

V0.40 already contained 35 definitions, but no "size setting" for snapshots yet... 

Considering the fact, that "TestController 3.41" now contains 240 definitions shows in an impressive way, that this community is capable of extraordinary achievements, together with your help of course, HKJ! Thank you! 

There is a significant difference between definition files and devices, the devices is around 900 now. The 35 files is probably mostly what I have written, now it is mostly user definitions.
The configuration page has got a couple of more settings over the years, often on the request of users.

[flash2b]

Indeed.. my 29 definitions serve 143 unique (and real, no fake) #idString's devices.

My first definition I submitted was on 13-8-2025, so almost 1 year ago. My largest definition is 42,3Kb and is 1434 lines of code (including comments, mostly at the top). It is the 17th largest definition (in Kb), so certainly not the most complex one. (not in Top 10  ).

While my definitions are not for the most commonly used devices, I hope they serve some users well. 

[HKJ]

Indeed.. my 29 definitions serve 143 unique (and real, no fake) #idString's devices.

My first definition I submitted was on 13-8-2025, so almost 1 year ago. My largest definitions is 42,3Kb and is 1434 lines of code (including comments, mostly at the top). It is the 17th largest definition (in Kb), so certainly not the most complex one. (not in Top 10  )

The most complex may be the Magnova, but Gyrfalcon chargers are also complex, but in another way.
File size or lines are not a good measurement of complexity, a simple definition with lots of #metadef's can be a fairly large file.

[flash2b]

You are right, maybe a new complexityAnalyze(definition_name) function ? 

My remote readout definitions use the most #pgm# while my first Yokogawa 75xx until the newly released GPIB version did not have any #pgm#. The last one, maybe not the most complex one, but took the longest to develop due to the fact that it was my first and also an old device with a load of options. Oh... and  it is still my largest in Kb too 

Those numbers were just some statistics I could determine quickly.

[Martin72]

Here's the definition for Hioki LCR models IM3523, IM3523A, IM3533, IM3533-01, IM3536, IM3536-10, IM3570, IM3590.

So far, everything's working fine with my IM3536-10—logging is working, and I can select a different frequency too. I'll probably aim for a longer log this weekend.