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

[bicycleguy]

@HJK
Will there be or is there a version for Mac that doesn't include intel components?  I'm on V2.53 so maybe I just need to update?

Apple keeps claiming the next version of the OS won't include Rosetta to run the Intel stuff.  I used to get warnings on other programs including Java based and updated them but haven't used TestController in a while so haven't updated.  I was kind of surprised that it runs without Apple giving me a warning to upgrade like with other programs.

Comments?

[HKJ]

@HJK
Will there be or is there a version for Mac that doesn't include intel components?  I'm on V2.53 so maybe I just need to update?

Apple keeps claiming the next version of the OS won't include Rosetta to run the Intel stuff.  I used to get warnings on other programs including Java based and updated them but haven't used TestController in a while so haven't updated.  I was kind of surprised that it runs without Apple giving me a warning to upgrade like with other programs.

Comments?

Being in Java it do not include any OS or CPU specific stuff (Not completely true, the serial interface has native code for many OS and CPU's).
For Java the rule is that the Java runtime includes all the CPU & OS specific stuff and that is not part of TC, you have to download it from one of the Java sources.

[Salient666]

I have a question about a 'quirk' (or maybe I'm doing something wrong) of the math function in TestController.

I have set up a grid with a running average and that works fine, however when I start the grid, or globally reset the grid, the math function always starts with MIN at 0. This means the PP reflects the MAX value at all times, which is not correct.

When I reset the math grid individually, it seems to work as it should. Is there a command that I could insert into the script that resets the math windows I am using individually so that the MIN value is displayed correctly and therefor the PP value is actually meaningful?

The same is true for the min/max graph, which also starts at 0 after starting the grid or a global grid reset.

[HKJ]

I have a question about a 'quirk' (or maybe I'm doing something wrong) of the math function in TestController.

I have set up a grid with a running average and that works fine, however when I start the grid, or globally reset the grid, the math function always starts with MIN at 0. This means the PP reflects the MAX value at all times, which is not correct.

When I reset the math grid individually, it seems to work as it should. Is there a command that I could insert into the script that resets the math windows I am using individually so that the MIN value is displayed correctly and therefor the PP value is actually meaningful?

The same is true for the min/max graph, which also starts at 0 after starting the grid or a global grid reset.

I am not sure what you are talking about.
I tried the Advanced readout, min/max chart and the Math page min/max functions, they all initialize correctly.
As testing source I uses a virtual generator and simply defined the output to be either positive for both limits or negative for both limits and no errors was seen.

[Salient666]

I have a question about a 'quirk' (or maybe I'm doing something wrong) of the math function in TestController.

I have set up a grid with a running average and that works fine, however when I start the grid, or globally reset the grid, the math function always starts with MIN at 0. This means the PP reflects the MAX value at all times, which is not correct.

When I reset the math grid individually, it seems to work as it should. Is there a command that I could insert into the script that resets the math windows I am using individually so that the MIN value is displayed correctly and therefor the PP value is actually meaningful?

The same is true for the min/max graph, which also starts at 0 after starting the grid or a global grid reset.

I am not sure what you are talking about.
I tried the Advanced readout, min/max chart and the Math page min/max functions, they all initialize correctly.
As testing source I uses a virtual generator and simply defined the output to be either positive for both limits or negative for both limits and no errors was seen.

See images, I hope this makes it clearer.

[HKJ]

See images, I hope this makes it clearer.

I just checked the code, it is correct. The only way a zero shows up, is if a zero is read.

[Salient666]

See images, I hope this makes it clearer.

I just checked the code, it is correct. The only way a zero shows up, is if a zero is read.

For some reason a global reset makes it so that a 0 is read from all devices in that case.
Is there a line I can add in the script to reset individual readouts?

[HKJ]

For some reason a global reset makes it so that a 0 is read from all devices in that case.
Is there a line I can add in the script to reset individual readouts?

No, there is no individual script control of the grid panels.

Both individual reset and global reset works exactly the same for individual panels (They call a reset function).

[Salient666]

Both individual reset and global reset works exactly the same for individual panels (They call a reset function).

For some reason, at least on my computer, it seems like it doesn't work the same because it has different outcomes. For now I will just quickly reset the math panels since it's only 3 of them.

[KungFuJosh]

StdDevRunning defaults to zero on reset. I assume this is because there is not enough data. However, I agree this is not accurate. The math channel is reading a DMM channel with ~10VDC on it, and at no point is the value zero.

Is it possible to have the math channel reset the minimum value only after the 1st Sample set requirement is met?

For example, Reset full grid panel, then (in our case) 180 Samples pass, and the Min value is set based on the first cycle's values.

For the PP value to be accurate, it has to reflect the data from Sample sets, not the empty reset value.

Thanks,
Josh

[HKJ]

StdDevRunning defaults to zero on reset. I assume this is because there is not enough data. However, I agree this is not accurate. The math channel is reading a DMM channel with ~10VDC on it, and at no point is the value zero.

Is it possible to have the math channel reset the minimum value only after the 1st Sample set requirement is met?

For example, Reset full grid panel, then (in our case) 180 Samples pass, and the Min value is set based on the first cycle's values.

For the PP value to be accurate, it has to reflect the data from Sample sets, not the empty reset value.

Max and min are initialized to the maximum double value, negative for max and positive for min, any other value is a measurement.

[KungFuJosh]

StdDevRunning defaults to zero on reset. I assume this is because there is not enough data. However, I agree this is not accurate. The math channel is reading a DMM channel with ~10VDC on it, and at no point is the value zero.

Is it possible to have the math channel reset the minimum value only after the 1st Sample set requirement is met?

For example, Reset full grid panel, then (in our case) 180 Samples pass, and the Min value is set based on the first cycle's values.

For the PP value to be accurate, it has to reflect the data from Sample sets, not the empty reset value.

Max and min are initialized to the maximum double value, negative for max and positive for min, any other value is a measurement.

That doesn't make sense on math channel. Min and Max should reflect the measured values on a Math channel. Zero is not accurate in this case.

[HKJ]

StdDevRunning defaults to zero on reset. I assume this is because there is not enough data. However, I agree this is not accurate. The math channel is reading a DMM channel with ~10VDC on it, and at no point is the value zero.

Is it possible to have the math channel reset the minimum value only after the 1st Sample set requirement is met?

For example, Reset full grid panel, then (in our case) 180 Samples pass, and the Min value is set based on the first cycle's values.

For the PP value to be accurate, it has to reflect the data from Sample sets, not the empty reset value.

Max and min are initialized to the maximum double value, negative for max and positive for min, any other value is a measurement.

That doesn't make sense on math channel. Min and Max should reflect the measured values on a Math channel. Zero is not accurate in this case.

It does, because first value will initialize both of them to that value. That is standard programming praxis to do it that way.

[KungFuJosh]

Then I guess we need to ignore min/max/PP for Math channels? Except for one thing: it's not consistent behavior.

If we reset the whole grid panel, Min is 0.

If we right-click the math box and hit Reset, then it shows everything correctly. I assume this happens because the math channel already has data at that point.

Thanks,
Josh

[HKJ]

Difference between resetting a single panel and a full grid panel reset is that the full reset will also reset the local Math. channels (Each window gets its own local Math. channels).

Grid panel has one instance of Math. channels, each single panel gets its own instance.

[KungFuJosh]

That's what I figured.

Is there a way to add a 3rd option, where the full grid panel reset let's the math run a full cycle first? Then everything could be displayed accurately.

[HKJ]

That's what I figured.

Is there a way to add a 3rd option, where the full grid panel reset let's the math run a full cycle first? Then everything could be displayed accurately.

Maybe a right-click option on the reset button to reset them individually.

[Cyclotron]

Usability suggestion. Maybe I'm the only one but it took me a while (long time ago) to figure out you can right click on the instrument name in the main window to select the instrument to give commands to or make settings on.  It's not obvious to me that the label of the instrument beside the command box is right clickable.

Maybe this would be better as a pull down or a button? 

[HKJ]

Usability suggestion. Maybe I'm the only one but it took me a while (long time ago) to figure out you can right click on the instrument name in the main window to select the instrument to give commands to or make settings on.  It's not obvious to me that the label of the instrument beside the command box is right clickable.

Maybe this would be better as a pull down or a button?

Right-clicking the label is one way and it is in the documentation.
Right-clicking on the command line is another way.

Adding a tool tip to it would probably be a good idea.

[KungFuJosh]

That's what I figured.

Is there a way to add a 3rd option, where the full grid panel reset let's the math run a full cycle first? Then everything could be displayed accurately.

Maybe a right-click option on the reset button to reset them individually.

Or is there a way to reset the math displays without resetting the math itself (like leaving a buffer)?

Reset Visual vs. Reset All

Reset Visual only empties the values in the display panels (but keeps the running math), and Reset All functions like the current option for resetting the grid panel where everything is cleared.

[HKJ]

That's what I figured.

Is there a way to add a 3rd option, where the full grid panel reset let's the math run a full cycle first? Then everything could be displayed accurately.

Maybe a right-click option on the reset button to reset them individually.

Or is there a way to reset the math displays without resetting the math itself (like leaving a buffer)?

Reset Visual vs. Reset All

Reset Visual only empties the values in the display panels (but keeps the running math), and Reset All functions like the current option for resetting the grid panel where everything is cleared.

That would be possible with my suggestion.

[KungFuJosh]

That would be possible with my suggestion.

Oh, so you mean right-click reset and that will reset all individually?

That's cool. Can it do them individually all at once so the sample count is still in sync?

[HKJ]

That would be possible with my suggestion.

Oh, so you mean right-click reset and that will reset all individually?

That's cool. Can it do them individually all at once so the sample count is still in sync?

Yes.

Right-click on the reset button and select between "Reset all panels" and "Reset Math channels", if you left-click the reset button it will work as it has always done.

[KungFuJosh]

Sounds good to me.

Thanks,
Josh

[gby]

I recently needed an ac powered meter to do some logging with and thought the Owon XDM1041 would be the cheapest option.  However, on Amazon I saw the same meter with the generic Digcreat name on it for $20 cheaper.  As it turns out it is just a rebrand and otherwise identical to the Owon original.

I edited the existing OwonXDM1041.txt device file with #metadef to add this rebrand since it returns Digcreat,XDM1041 instead of Owon,XDB1041 in response to *IDN?  Attached is the updated device file for others that might run across this rebranded version.