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

[flash2b]

It only happens on reloaded data, not while logging live.

The reload path is parsing the column name - splitting on underscores to recover type, source and sample count - and then rejoining for display without putting them back. So the reconstruction partly works: it recovers enough to identify the channel, it just doesn't carry the unit and it mangles the label on the way out.

I am surprised it mangles the names.
And I do not remember if TC tries to recover units from math, I hope it does, but I will check.

It is very inconsistent, sometime the unit °C is back, sometimes not. I feel selecting on/off/on Math rule helps.

[flash2b]

I have made a Notepad++ User Defined Language config to help coding TestController definition files.

After importing, open Language > User Defined Language > Define your language, go to the Comment & Number tab, and under Comment line position tick "Force at the beginning of line". Without it every semicolon starts a comment, including the ones separating commands.

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[KungFuJosh]

I have made a Notepad++ User Defined Language config to help coding TestController definition files.

After importing, open Language > User Defined Language > Define your language, go to the Comment & Number tab, and under Comment line position tick "Force at the beginning of line". Without it every semicolon starts a comment, including the ones separating commands.

(Attachment Link)

That's an awesome idea, thanks for sharing it!

Do you know if it's possible to change the color scheme from the one you defined, to use theme defined colors instead?

I use the "Obsidian" color theme in notepad++, and the language defined colors don't work well with it. I'm manually editing it, but it would be universally better if it adopted theme colors instead of defining them based on a white background.

Thanks,
Josh

[flash2b]

Yes you can change it in Notepad++ under Language > User Defined Language > Define your language , there is a [styler]  under keywords list

I will make updates when I find more things to improve. My color theme is standard. There was no UDL available so that initiated me to make it. After 4 drafts, this was the result. But I will update it when I have more stuff to add.

For me it is helping me making less mistakes.

Did not officially publish on the Notepad++ UDL space.

[KungFuJosh]

This is your thing. I won't even post my mods publicly here.

[flash2b]

Well I am happy that I can make a difference sometimes.

It is very likely that I will update it some time later when I find mistakes/additions. It is certainty better that b/w and I can even highlight my commonly used #replacetext space holders in the 7th group.

If keywords are missing, please let me know. Notepad++ highlighting is not perfect and has its limitations.

[KungFuJosh]

Indeed. Unfortunately, it looks like it mostly gives up after around 1200 something lines. That's fine for most definitions, but some are significantly longer. I dunno if there's a way to fix that or not. I couldn't find one.

Try loading my Batronix Magnova definition and see how it looks for you.

Thanks,
Josh

[flash2b]

I will give it a try and let you know. But that will be tomorrow.

[Cyclotron]

Lots done, reworked the two PS drivers I'm posting today.

https://github.com/Cyclotronic/TC-Drivers

Attaching them here too. I also have created a notebook area on my github. Those are my musings, research, and discovery of TC as I've gone through the process of developing these drivers. I've consulted the docs, the error logs, this thread etc. (Thanks to all).
I can't guarantee its 100% right but I will update them as I find the or am told of the need.

Anyway, HP PS:  HP363xA covers (HP3632A, HP3633A*, and the HP3634A) *indicates the actually model tested and on both GPIB and serial

[Cyclotron]

https://github.com/Cyclotronic/TC-Drivers/tree/main/drivers/HP_Agilent_E3631A

The E3631A driver.  Both the above and this one use the "digital" feature for representing regulation.

[KungFuJosh]

I think I might have got you addicted to another TE related hobby.

[HKJ]

Lots done, reworked the two PS drivers I'm posting today.

Updated and next on is added, thanks.

[HKJ]

I have made a Notepad++ User Defined Language config to help coding TestController definition files.

After importing, open Language > User Defined Language > Define your language, go to the Comment & Number tab, and under Comment line position tick "Force at the beginning of line". Without it every semicolon starts a comment, including the ones separating commands.

Interesting idea, I may add it somewhere in the documentation, but will wait for your update.

[flash2b]

@Cyclotron
Do I understand that the definitions of Cyclotron are Copyrighted and provided under license ? (that is what I read on your github)

Could you clarify this why that is needed and also how this impacts TC as a whole once part of a release.

[sn258]

I am relaxing this evening and playing with my computer and I derided to play a bit with AI and used the following question...

I've tried various AI versions in my engineering work. General impressions:

ChatGPT is a philosopher. It discusses everything ten times before writing code. And then it starts getting confused in its own hypotheses. I haven't tested the paid version; perhaps it works better.

Gemini is a rush. It writes code without prior discussion, with tons of errors. And then it fixes some errors and introduces others. I haven't tested the paid version.

Claude is a hard worker. I first approached Flabe 5 with a three-paragraph technical description, which I discussed with ChatGPT beforehand. Flabe spent 26 minutes processing the data and produced error-free code, which I still use today.

[Cyclotron]

I think I might have got you addicted to another TE related hobby.

You are that friend that mom said "IF Josh jumped in a fire would you jump in too?"  Which we all said "yup".

[Cyclotron]

@Cyclotron
Do I understand that the definitions of Cyclotron are Copyrighted and provided under license ? (that is what I read on your github)

Could you clarify this why that is needed and also how this impacts TC as a whole once part of a release.

First off IANAL.

The short answer is, my marking and license are proof of my intent and make use and distribution free permanently.

Copyright isn't something I opted into. It attaches automatically to anything anyone writes, a definition file included, in almost every country. The default for a file with no licence is "all rights reserved" — strictly, nobody may copy, modify or redistribute it. That's the restrictive state. Putting MIT on the repo is me explicitly granting everyone permission to use, change, share, and even sell these files. It's about as permissive as it gets short of public domain.

You may have noticed the copyright because I respected Josh's copyright on the K2002 driver in my syncing of it to my repo. I worked in conjunction with Josh on that driver and he automatically holds a copyright so I just note it in the file in case others need to know. That's being respectful I believe.

On TestController: no impact. MIT is permissive, not copyleft — it doesn't spread to anything it sits next to, doesn't touch TC's own terms, and asks nothing of HKJ beyond keeping the notice in the file.

I hope this makes sense. As authors of the drives, each individual has rights under the law. Others that want to use those may find themselves in trouble if they don't know what the license is until after they use it or incorporate it.

I encourage everyone to define their license because they own it regardless of their noting it. It would be reasonable for HJK to ask that each driver have a reasonable license from the author before including it. Its unfortunate that this is the way of things but its better to understand it and align your work to your will by stating it.

[HKJ]

I encourage everyone to define their license because they own it regardless of their noting it. It would be reasonable for HJK to ask that each driver have a reasonable license from the author before including it. Its unfortunate that this is the way of things but its better to understand it and align your work to your will by stating it.

I take posting is this thread as implied consent to include it in TC.
With images I want a statement saying I am free to use it (I sometimes add images to the list of supported equipment, but only for a few devices).
I Flash2b takes photos of some of his modules, I may include a few, there are nearly no photos of modules in the list.

[Cyclotron]

I encourage everyone to define their license because they own it regardless of their noting it. It would be reasonable for HJK to ask that each driver have a reasonable license from the author before including it. Its unfortunate that this is the way of things but its better to understand it and align your work to your will by stating it.

I take posting is this thread as implied consent to include it in TC.
With images I want a statement saying I am free to use it (I sometimes add images to the list of supported equipment, but only for a few devices).
I Flash2b takes photos of some of his modules, I may include a few, there are nearly no photos of modules in the list.

Thank you for posting that. This gives everyone a clear understanding of the path to being included with TC.
All of my content for TC shoudl be considered free to use.  The repos that contain it all out on github should be clear I hope. If you need any specific statements from me let me know. I picked MIT license as a way to find something the most permissive but IANAL so maybe there's a better one.

[HKJ]

Thank you for posting that. This gives everyone a clear understanding of the path to being included with TC.
All of my content for TC shoudl be considered free to use.  The repos that contain it all out on github should be clear I hope. If you need any specific statements from me let me know. I picked MIT license as a way to find something the most permissive but IANAL so maybe there's a better one.

The alternate is to email the definition to me, that also works.
Anything but definitions and TC scrips I need more specific permission to include, but I can add links (See my project page).

[Cyclotron]

Could @Cyclotron please change #name LBE-1420 GPS to #name Leo Bodnar LBE-1420 GPS in the definition?

(more consistency)

Don't forget to reload the definition or edit settingsLoad.txt adding the same there as well !

I've updated this driver with the manufacturer name in the #name and dropped the "GPS".

[HKJ]

I've updated this driver with the manufacturer name in the #name and dropped the "GPS".

Updated, thanks.

[Zucca]

Would make sense to rewrite it abandoning Java and using 100% Python instead?
Python has an enormous ecosystem of community-supported libraries (like pyVisa, RPi.GPIO, pySerial, smbus, and CircuitPython/MicroPython libraries) designed specifically to interface with HW.

I am a beginner here, so please go soft and sorry in advance. Please do not shoot at me.

[HKJ]

Would make sense to rewrite it abandoning Java and using 100% Python instead?
Python has an enormous ecosystem of community-supported libraries (like pyVisa, RPi.GPIO, pySerial, smbus, and CircuitPython/MicroPython libraries) designed specifically to interface with HW.

I am a beginner here, so please go soft and sorry in advance. Please do not shoot at me.

I would not:
I know how to program in Java and do not know how to program in Python.
There are a lot of code, it might years to rewrite it.
Keeping compatibility with all definitions is very important, the program is not very useful without them.

[Zucca]

Of course the new one MUST be backwards compatible with the (awesome) current definitions.
Chatting with an (hallucinated and drunk as always) AI vomited this at me:

PyVISA: The industry standard for communicating with test equipment via GPIB, USB, RS232, or Ethernet (SCPI commands).
PySerial: Perfect for simpler devices that talk over virtual serial/COM ports.
Plotting & Dashboards: Instead of built-in Java GUI windows, Python lets you stream live data directly into Plotly/Dash, Streamlit, or Grafana for gorgeous, web-accessible telemetry dashboards.
Data Analysis: Instantly pipe your logged data into Pandas, NumPy, or SciPy for immediate post-processing and curve fitting.

bah...... take all the above with a lot of salt (not just a pinch)....

It seems there is already an alternative out of the box:
https://pymodaq.cnrs.fr/
I will try it out for TEA and report it a new thread, when I will have time in 2027.

I am just the opposite, I know Python quite well and I am trying to avoid Java basically because I am a beginner there and had bad experiences when Java was young....

Do not get me wrong, your job is a white gloves 6 stars project that helped thousand of peoples here.... plus the passion you have in documenting and maintaining it is an example for me

I am just curious about possible alternative.... No need to reply, I do not want to pollute this awesome thread.