DIAdemTM. Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

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1 DIAdemTM Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited April F-01

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5 Contents About This Manual Conventions...ix Related Documentation...x Chapter 1 Working with DIAdem DIAdem Panels DIAdem User Interface DIAdem Introduction Screen Videos and Examples Documentation and Web Support NI License Manager Chapter 2 Finding and Managing Data Mining External Data Extending the Search Entering Search Criteria Configuring a DataFinder Configuring the Local DataFinder Configuring a Remote DataFinder Navigating in Data Stores Creating Data Stores Loading Data from Files and Data Stores Additional File Formats Managing Internal Data in the Data Portal Working with Channels Creating New Channels Numeric Channels, Waveform Channels, Time Channels, and Text Channels Organizing 2D Data and 3D Data Editing and Creating Data Properties Saving Internal Data National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited v DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

6 Contents Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions Using Standard Functions Calculating Formulas in the Calculator Entering Formulas Calculating with Channels Calculating with Variables and Single Values Calculating in Scripts Calling Standard Functions Calculating Your Own Formulas Assigning Single Values Using Variables Program Variables Auxiliary Variables User Variables Defining MathScripts Calculating with Invalid Values Function Libraries Basic Mathematical Functions Channel Calculation Functions Curve Fitting Functions Signal Analysis Functions Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) Digital Filters Frequency-Weighted Acceleration Order Analysis Statistics Functions Classification Functions Rainflow Classification D Analysis Functions Crash Analysis Functions Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation Graphically Analyzing and Editing Data Worksheet Design Editing Layouts Viewing Data as Curves Zooming Curve Sections Analyzing Curves Editing Curves DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation vi ni.com

7 Contents Evaluating Videos and Curves Synchronizing Videos and Data Editing and Entering Data in Channel Tables Using Text and Graphics for Design Creating Reports Creating a Report Worksheet Design Using the Chart Wizard Editing Objects Displaying Objects Numeric Formatting Editing Layouts Creating Templates Page Format Inserting Report Objects Inserting Axis Systems D Axis Systems Polar Axis Systems D Axis Systems Inserting Tables D Tables D Tables Adding Text and Comments Texts Text Objects Comments Inserting Graphics and Lines Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Working with Scripts Creating Scripts Executing Commands Using Variables Program Variables VBS Variables Auxiliary Variables User Variables Calculating Formulas Controlling the Script Sequence Script Readability and Reusability National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited vii DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

8 Contents Creating User Interfaces Calling Program Dialog Boxes Creating User Dialog Boxes Defining User Dialog Boxes Controlling User Dialog Boxes Saving and Testing User Dialog Boxes Special Script Functions Defining User Commands Evaluating a Series of Files Communicating with Other Applications Accessing Objects in DIAdem NAVIGATOR Accessing Objects in DIAdem VIEW Accessing Objects in DIAdem REPORT Accessing LabVIEW VIs Appendix A Configuring DIAdem Settings... A-1 Program Launch with Start Parameters... A-2 Folder Structure... A-3 Appendix B DataPlugins Appendix C Technical Support and Professional Services Index DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation viii ni.com

9 About This Manual Conventions The DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation manual describes the structure of DIAdem as well as how to use the DIAdem functions to find data, to run analyses, to generate reports, and to compile all the functions into a script. The first chapter gives you an overview of the DIAdem structure. The subsequent chapters describe the functions of the individual DIAdem panels. The Appendixes provide additional information about DIAdem and about DataPlugins. The DIAdem manuals are available in Portable Document Format (PDF) in the online help and on the DIAdem CD. To open the manuals in the help, select Help»Contents and click Related Documentation on the first page. You must have the Adobe Reader installed on your computer if you want to read the PDF documents. The following conventions are used in this manual: <> Angles brackets indicate a key you press to perform a function, for example, <Ctrl> for the control key.» The» symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options to a final action. The settings Help»Examples instruct you to open the Help menu and select the menu item Examples. DIAdem opens the Example Finder, where you can run examples for various DIAdem functions. This icon denotes a tip, which alerts you to advisory information. This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information. bold italic Bold text denotes items that you must select or click in the software, such as menu items and dialog box options. Parameters are also in bold type. Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross-reference, or an introduction to a key concept. Italic text also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word or value that you must supply. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited ix DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

10 About This Manual monospace Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the keyboard, such as sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples. This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, folders, programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations, commands, variables, controls, events, methods, filenames and extensions, and code excerpts. Related Documentation For more information on DIAdem, refer to the following documentation: Getting Started with DIAdem You can use this DIAdem manual to familiarize yourself with DIAdem features and how to use them. The manual includes exercises for mining, analyzing, and presenting data. The exercises in Chapter 5, Automating Sequences, show you how to combine work steps into one script. DIAdem Help, which you open by selecting Help»Contents, or by pressing <F1>. The DIAdem help offers you procedures and dialog box help for each panel, as well as references to functions, commands, and variables. NI DataFinder Server Edition: Search Engine for Technical Data The DataFinder server indexes data files in a network, to allow workgroups to search for data with DIAdem. NI INSIGHT: Projecting Measurement or Simulated Data onto 3D Models You use NI INSIGHT to project measured or simulated data onto a 3D model, for example, to display temperatures as shading on a crash test dummy or to display strain as deformation of a tunnel support. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation x ni.com

11 Working with DIAdem 1 DIAdem Panels DIAdem is the interactive National Instruments software for finding and managing technical data, mathematically and graphically analyzing the data, and presenting the data in reports. You search for data on your computer drives or on the network, and navigate in data files and databases to drag and drop the files you find, into DIAdem. You view the loaded data to decide which data to run mathematical analyses on. You present calculation results in a report. If you frequently use the same method to evaluate data, you generate a script that automates your evaluations in DIAdem. DIAdem consists of several panels. Each panel deals with a particular type of task. For example, if you want to record data in a report, you use at least two panels. Use DIAdem NAVIGATOR to find and load data and use DIAdem REPORT to display the loaded data in a report. You switch panels using the panel bar, which is always visible on the left of the screen. All panels work with the data from the Data Portal. DIAdem VIEW, DIAdem ANALYSIS, and DIAdem SCRIPT can modify data and store the results in the Data Portal. You can display and edit the contents of the channels in channel tables in DIAdem VIEW. DIAdem SCRIPT combines all the panel functions in scripts. You can use scripts to create your own applications that process your tasks automatically. If LabVIEW is installed on your computer, you can start it by clicking the LabVIEW button on the panel bar. Refer to the DIAdem CD or to ni.com/ diadem for the LabVIEW DIAdem Connectivity VIs, which you can use to document LabVIEW measurements in a DIAdem report. To project measurement data and simulated data on 3D models as color shading and deformation, use NI INSIGHT. NI INSIGHT is a separate program that works with DIAdem DAT data. For further information on NI INSIGHT visit ni.com/insight. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 1-1 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

12 Chapter 1 Working with DIAdem DIAdem User Interface When you select a DIAdem panel, the user interface changes for quick access to the functions you want. Each DIAdem panel has its own group bar to the right of the panel bar. Click a function bar button on the group bar and select the function you want when the function bar opens. The workspace also changes with the DIAdem panel and displays a folder and file overview or a worksheet. Each panel has its own toolbar and menus, which contain frequently-used functions. To generate a report, select DIAdem REPORT on the panel bar. Select the 2D Axis Systems group bar to open the function bar with the predefined 2D axis system definitions.on this function bar, click the 2D Axis System with Frame button shown on the left. The function bar disappears and a small rectangle appears at the cursor. Click and drag open a frame where you want to position the 2D axis system in the worksheet. Select the channels to be displayed in the Data Portal, and drag and drop the selected channels into the axis system. DIAdem displays the channels as curves. Double-click the axis system to open the dialog box for the axis system, where you define the display. The settings are grouped into subject areas on several tabs. You can use the shortcut menu to change the default settings for the functions on the function bars. If you frequently calculate the arithmetic mean and the standard deviation, for example, change the default setting of the Descriptive Statistics function. Select the DIAdem ANALYSIS panel and click the Statistics group bar, to open the function bar. Right-click the Descriptive Statistics button. Select Default Setting from the shortcut menu. Click All Off in the dialog box and select the two characteristic values Arithmetic mean and Standard deviation. Click Change. Now click the Descriptive Statistics button, and the dialog box is preset with the arithmetic mean and the standard deviation. The bottom function bar is the same in all the panels. You can assign your own scripts to this function bar and then call the scripts in all panels. You also can use the keyboard to call these scripts. For example, press <Shift-F1> to call the script assigned to the first button. You can drag and drop one or more files directly from the Explorer to DIAdem, to load the files in DIAdem. If you drag and drop files to the workspace of the active DIAdem panel, you must drop file types that the panel can edit. For example, you can load only TDV layout files in DIAdem VIEW and only TDR layout files in DIAdem REPORT. If you drag and drop files outside of the workspace onto the header bar, the menu bar, the DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 1-2 ni.com

13 Chapter 1 Working with DIAdem toolbar, or the status bar, you can load any data type. DIAdem automatically opens the respective panel. If you drop a file onto the button of a DIAdem panel, DIAdem opens the respective panel after a brief period. DIAdem Introduction Screen Videos and Examples Documentation and Web Support When you launch DIAdem, the DIAdem introduction screen appears. The introduction screen includes videos and examples that show you how to work with DIAdem. The information about DIAdem includes tips for newcomers and for advanced users, and gives you links to other Internet sites. If the introduction screen does not appear when DIAdem launches, select Help»Introduction to open the introduction screen. Use the Don't show this screen again checkbox to specify whether DIAdem displays the introduction screen the next time DIAdem starts. Run the short videos to see how to use DIAdem successfully. You can control the video using the buttons below the video. Use the slider control to run the video from any point, for example, to repeat a certain section of the video. Select Examples»Example Finder in the Introduction Screen, to automatically load examples for data analysis, for generating reports, and for creating scripts in DIAdem. The examples in the table of contents of the Example Finder include simple solutions and complex applications. Click Start example in the description of the selected example, to run the example. Press <Esc> to stop an example. Click Copy example files to use the files as a template for your own solutions. Refer to Resources on the Introduction Screen for a list of the DIAdem manuals, descriptions of the new features in DIAdem, and various Web links. Select New to DIAdem?»Getting Started to open the manual on the screen. Refer to the Manuals subfolder in the DIAdem installation folder, for other manuals and documents. To read the PDF files, you need the Adobe Reader. You can download the Adobe Reader from the Adobe Web site National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 1-3 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

14 Chapter 1 Working with DIAdem NI License Manager Select Additional Resources»DIAdem Help to open the DIAdem help. The DIAdem help gets you started with DIAdem and helps you to use functions and to automate your tasks. The DIAdem help offers procedures and dialog box help for each panel, as well as a programming reference for creating scripts. A procedure is a step-by-step description of the solution to your task. Complete the steps to learn how to work with the described functions. Select Additional Resources»DataPlugins Downloads and Information to download DataPlugins from the National Instruments Internet site called DataPlugins. DataPlugins are file filters for loading or saving file formats in DIAdem. Refer to Appendix B, DataPlugins, for more information about DataPlugins. The NI License Manager helps you manage your NI software product licenses. To work with DIAdem after your Evaluation version expires, select Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI License Manager and enter your serial number. To add new DIAdem components, select Help»Activate license and expand your license. The NI License Manager only enables functionality that is included in your license. For example, your license might not allow you to use 3D functions in DIAdem REPORT and DIAdem ANALYSIS. The buttons in the function bars are dimmed if the 3D functions are not included with your license. You must license another DIAdem package to access the 3D functions. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 1-4 ni.com

15 Finding and Managing Data 2 Mining External Data Use DIAdem NAVIGATOR to find, to load, and to manage data. You use the DataFinder to browse data files on your computer and on the network. You use the file browser to navigate external data in data files and in databases. You load data into the Data Portal, which manages all internal data. The data is arranged in channels, each displaying a data series. All DIAdem panels work with the channels in the Data Portal. In DIAdem NAVIGATOR you use the DataFinder to browse data files on your computer and on the network. In the search results, DIAdem lists the files, channel groups, or channels that it finds. You can drag and drop the found data into the Data Portal or navigate in the files with the file browser. To find data from a series of tests or data relating to a specific subject, enter an appropriate search term in the search input area. If you search for meteorological data, for example, enter Precipitation in the search input area if the data set you want contains the term precipitation as a channel name or in the comments. DIAdem browses through all the data files for the text Precipitation and lists the found data files on the Search Results tab. Refer to the Configuring a DataFinder section for a description of how to specify which folders the DataFinder browses. The properties window displays the properties of the selected file, the selected channel group, or the selected channel. Click one of the files to view the file properties. In the properties window, DIAdem displays file properties such as the filename, path, creation date, name, and author. Drag the top edge of the properties window up to view the entire properties list. To browse in the files found, right-click the file in the search results and select Display in File Browser. DIAdem opens the file browser and selects the file. The file browser offers a tree view of the folders that were browsed. You can browse down to channel level in the folders in the appropriate file formats. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 2-1 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

16 Chapter 2 Finding and Managing Data Extending the Search If you can open a file down to channel level, DIAdem can display the channel data as curves in the channel preview. Select a channel of a TDM file, for example. The channel preview to the right of the properties window displays the channel values via the index. Drag the right edge of the properties window to the left to enlarge the channel preview. You can deactivate the channel preview for certain file formats if the associated data filter or DataPlugin does not allow fast preview. To do this, enter the name of this DataPlugin in the text file ChnPreViewLock.txt in the DIAdem program folder. To execute a search with a more detailed definition, click Advanced Search. In the search input area, you can enter several search criteria that DIAdem connects with the AND operator. For example, if you search for meteorological data that includes a channel called Precipitation and that is more than one month old, specify two lines in the search input area. When you specify a search criterion in one line, DIAdem automatically creates a second line. In the first row, click the field below Search In and select Channel. Click Enter a property in the Property column and select Name. Click the third column and select the = operator. Click the button with the three dots at the end of the first row. DIAdem lists the names of all the indexed channels. Enter the letter P under Search in list and select Precipitation. DIAdem enters the channel name Precipitation in the Value column. In the second row, select File in the Search In column and select Creation date in the Property column. In the third column, select Date before <= as the operator. In the Value column, first click the displayed date and then click the button with the arrowhead to open the calendar. Select a date that dates back at least one month. If you click the button with the three points at the end of the second row, DIAdem displays the time range of the creation date for all the indexed files. Click Search Files to find files that match the search criteria. DIAdem lists the files it finds on the Search Results tab. You also can search for channel groups and channels. If you want channel groups that match the search criteria that you have specified, click the arrowhead on the Search Files button and select Search Groups. On the Search Results tab, DIAdem automatically lists only channel groups that have a channel called Precipitation, and that have files with the specified creation date. If you want to view only the relevant channels in the results, select Search Channels. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 2-2 ni.com

17 Chapter 2 Finding and Managing Data Entering Search Criteria If you enter text in the search input area of the Quick Search or in the Value column of the Advanced Search, DIAdem automatically displays a list of your previous entries that start with the same letters. You can enter the search text in uppercase or lowercase because the DIAdem search is not case-sensitive. In a Quick Search you also can search for fragments if you do not know the complete filename or if the filenames all start with the name of a test series. For example, enter the fragment tr_m17_qt for a test series in which the test program automatically uses the identification of the test series as the filenames of the measurement results. DIAdem finds all the data sets that have the fragment tr_m17_qt at the beginning of a name or at the beginning of another property. In an Advanced Search, you must use wildcards to search for fragments. Use a question mark (?) as a wildcard for one character, and an asterisk (*) as a wildcard for any number of characters. To search for the fragment m17, enter *m17*. DIAdem finds all the data sets that have the fragment m17 at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a property. If you search for files with a specific filename extension, enter *.DAT, for example, for the filename. In an Advanced Search, depending on the type of property you search for, you can use various operators, which are listed in the following table. For text properties such as the Name, you use the = operator, for numeric properties such as the Maximum values, you use the usual comparative operators, for date properties such as the Creation date, you also can use the # operator for the Relative range, where you can select today, yesterday, the last 7 days, the last 14 days, or the last 30 days. Table 2-1. Where to Use the Operators in an Advanced Search Operator Meaning Numeric Date Text = Equal to <> Not equal to > Greater than >= Greater than or equal to < Less than National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 2-3 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

18 Chapter 2 Finding and Managing Data Table 2-1. Where to Use the Operators in an Advanced Search (Continued) Operator Meaning Numeric Date Text <= Less than or equal to # Relative range Configuring a DataFinder The Advanced search is based on the hierarchical TDM data model with files, channel groups, and channels. DIAdem links the search criteria in the various lines of the search input area with AND. The search results remain empty if the properties you search for are mutually exclusive. For example, a search for the channel names Name1 and Name2 returns no search results even if you have data sets that have a channel called Name1 and a channel called Name2. If you have loaded data from a test series into the Data Portal and you want to find and compare more data sets from the same test series, you can fill the search input area by dragging and dropping a file, a group, or a channel from the Data Portal into the search input area. You also can drag and drop a property of a file, of a group, or of a channel from the structure view and the properties window of the Data Portal, into the search input area. If you define a search in several lines and you want to use the definition again later, click Save Query As on the toolbar to save the entries from your current search. DIAdem saves the parameters of the current search in a file with the filename extension tdq. Click Load Query to load a stored query. Click Delete Query on the toolbar to specify a new search in the search input area. Click Previous Query or Next Query on the toolbar if you want to use a previous search. Press <Del> to delete selected rows in the search input area. You execute the searches described above with the local DataFinder My DataFinder, which is located on your computer. You install the DataFinder with DIAdem. The DataFinder function bar contains the local DataFinder My DataFinder and three buttons to which you can assign remote DataFinders from other computers if you select Default Setting from the shortcut menu. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 2-4 ni.com

19 Chapter 2 Finding and Managing Data Configuring the Local DataFinder Use My DataFinder to search folders on your computer or on the network, with the local DataFinder. You cannot delete the local DataFinder and you cannot create additional local DataFinders. To edit the settings of the local DataFinder, select Settings»My DataFinder»Configure. In the configuration of the local DataFinder you specify the search areas and the indexing of the data files. You also can see which file formats the DataFinder includes in the search. Search areas are the file system folders that the DataFinder searches for files. On the Search Areas tab you select the folders that the DataFinder browses. You can name and delete search areas and specify the order in which DIAdem displays the search areas in the file browser. You can exclude subfolders from the search. You also can use the shortcut menu of the file browser to create and to limit search areas. The DataFinder only can search for files in the search area if the DataFinder indexes the files first. Click the Indexer tab in the DataFinder configuration dialog box to specify when and how often the DataFinder indexes the search areas. In the file browser, DIAdem displays an hourglass next to files and search areas that the DataFinder has not yet indexed. The File Extensions tab has two lists that contain all the filename extensions that the local DataFinder recognizes. The Indexable extensions list shows all the indexable file types, which correspond to the TDM data model. In indexable files the DataFinder can search for properties of data sets, groups, and channels. DIAdem can navigate to channel level in indexed files. Click a filename extension to see which DataPlugins My DataFinder uses to index these files. The Nonindexable extensions list shows all the non-indexable file types. These file types do not correspond to the TDM data model. In nonindexable files, the DataFinder cannot search for properties of groups or channels. The DataFinder only can search for properties that the file system provides, such as the filename and the creation date. On the DataPlugins tab you see which file filters the DataFinder can use for a search. You can optimize the search for custom properties for the local DataFinder. Custom properties are user-defined properties that you can create for data sets, groups, and channels of the data that is saved in the TDM data model. Select Settings»My DataFinder»Optimize Custom Properties and click the tabs File, Group, and Channel to select the custom properties to be optimized. If you click Suggest, the DataFinder selects custom properties to be optimized. DIAdem lists these custom properties in the properties that you can choose from in the Advanced Search. If you select an optimized National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 2-5 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

20 Chapter 2 Finding and Managing Data custom property, you can click the button shown here, which is at the end of the entry field, to include a suggested value in the search. You only can search for the Date type custom properties if these custom properties have been optimized. Generally, you should not change the index location, where My DataFinder saves the index, and which is set up during installation. However, if the drive with the index has less than 20 MB free memory space, the DataFinder stops indexing and displays an error message. You must then either delete files to make more space available, or change the index location. Select Settings»My DataFinder»Configure, click the Advanced tab, and change the Index location. If you change the index location, the DataFinder reindexes the search areas. To avoid changing the index location while you are working, install DIAdem on a hard drive or on a partition that has sufficient hard disk memory space. If you delete large search areas or if the DataFinder can no longer access its index, the DataFinder must create a new index. To do so, select Settings» My DataFinder»Reset to delete the previous index. When you close this dialog box, the DataFinder automatically reindexes. Data indexing may take some time. Configuring a Remote DataFinder Use a Remote DataFinder to use a DataFinder on another computer that you are connected to on a network. Select Settings»Remote DataFinder to define a remote DataFinder. In the remote DataFinder settings you can create, import, and configure remote DataFinders and delete remote DataFinders from the list. To register a DataFinder server, for example, click Import Remote DataFinder and import the client configuration, which a DataFinder Server Edition created. The DataFinder Server Edition saves the parameters in a file that has the extension urf. If you use the URF file to import DataPlugins that are already registered, you can specify whether you want DIAdem to use the imported DataPlugins in the future. To access the files that are indexed by the registered DataFinder server, select File»Open DataFinder. Select the imported DataFinder server. DIAdem opens the search areas of the DataFinder server in the file browser. You can navigate in the search areas of the DataFinder server and load data. To modify the parameters for the link to a remote DataFinder in DIAdem, select Settings»Remote DataFinder. Select the new DataFinder server that you have registered and click Properties. Click Test to check the connection to the server. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 2-6 ni.com

21 Chapter 2 Finding and Managing Data Navigating in Data Stores The index and the search areas of a remote DataFinder must both be shared for remote access. Then you can browse the indexed files of a remote DataFinder and search for data. To load data from a DataFinder server into the Data Portal, for example, you must have read access on the other computers, for the data that the DataFinder server indexed. Secondly, the search areas of the DataFinder server also must be defined by UNC path names that are unique within the network. You cannot change the settings of a remote DataFinder from your computer. Open the information area on the task bar on the bottom right and rightclick to open the shortcut menu of a DataFinder. Select About My DataFinder to see when the last complete indexing was executed and how many files, groups, and channels are indexed. You also can close the DataFinder, or stop and restart indexing. DIAdem NAVIGATOR displays external data stores as a hierarchical structure. You can navigate data stores on your computer, on connected network drives, and on all registered databases. On the Data Stores function bar in DIAdem NAVIGATOR you can select and open file-based data stores and server-based data stores. To load SQL data, click SQL Example on the Data Stores function bar. DIAdem NAVIGATOR opens the SQL example database. You can browse in the database and drag and drop single channels and channel groups into the Data Portal. Use the filter function to limit the display of data from a server-based data store. Select Filter Settings from the shortcut menu of the data file to open the dialog box for filter settings. For example, to view all data called Test from a certain date, enter the name test.* and the date the data was saved. If you browse in a file-based data store, you can drag and drop data files into the Data Portal and use the shortcut menu of the data file to load single channels and channel groups. DIAdem displays selected channels, channel groups, or files, which you can load into the Data Portal, with a colored background. Creating Data Stores The settings for the data stores display all the data stores available in DIAdem. You can configure and delete the existing data stores and select a data store to open in DIAdem NAVIGATOR. You also can create new data stores. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 2-7 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

22 Chapter 2 Finding and Managing Data To add data stores, select Settings»Data Stores. Click Create Data Store and select, for example, the data store type SQL, to add a new SQL database. Enter a name and the necessary settings for the SQL database. The Data Stores function bar has preassigned buttons and three unassigned buttons. You can select Default Setting from the shortcut menu to assign other data stores to all the buttons, which makes frequently-used data readily available. Loading Data from Files and Data Stores You drag and drop files, channel groups, or channels from the file browser and from the search results, into the Data Portal. If you drop a file, a channel group, or several channels onto the root of the Data Portal, DIAdem deletes the internal data and loads the new data. If you drag a file or a channel group to another position in the Data Portal, DIAdem generates a new group with the loaded channels. If you drag single channels to a place in the Data Portal, DIAdem adds these channels to the group that you used last. When you drag and drop data into the Data Portal, DIAdem automatically uses the loader associated with the particular file type. If DIAdem cannot automatically load a file, you can specify the loader. Right-click the file and select Open With from the shortcut menu. In the Open With dialog box, you see which data your DIAdem installation can load. Select a loader, for example ASCII import, to load a special text format with the ASCII Import Wizard. If DIAdem does not provide a loader for a special file format, click Download to download a loader from the NI DataPlugin Web site. If you want to create a new loader, click Wizard. DIAdem opens the DataPlugin Wizard to create a DataPlugin. A DataPlugin is based on a VBScript that analyzes files of a specific type and provides the data for DIAdem. Refer to Appendix B, DataPlugins, for more information about DataPlugins. To speed up work with very large files, select Register Data from the shortcut menu of a file in the file browser. DIAdem creates write-protected channels in the Data Portal, that refer to the data without loading the data into the internal memory. To edit a registered channel, select Expand Channel from the shortcut menu of the channel in the Data Portal. For reduced loading of large files in which the consecutive values either do not differ or only differ slightly, select Data Reduction from the shortcut menu in the file browser. You specify the width of the interval that DIAdem applies to each data channel to load one channel from each interval. You can load the first value from each interval or you can calculate the mean, DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 2-8 ni.com

23 Chapter 2 Finding and Managing Data the maximum, or the minimum for each interval. If you use several reduction methods simultaneously, DIAdem creates a new data channel for each reduction method. Additional File Formats DIAdem uses many file formats and databases. Refer to the Open With dialog box or the NI DataPlugin Web site to see which file formats DIAdem already supports. You also can import binary data, use the ASAM data service in scripts, and add GPI extensions. Select File»DAT Files»Import via Header, for example, to import binary data. To import the data, you create a header file that contains information about the data set and the channels. Click Execute in the dialog box to load the channels into the Data Portal according to the information. Instead of making all the header entries again, you can load an existing header file and modify it for the file to be loaded. Use the ASAM data service when you use commands for communicating with ASAM databases in a script. The ASAM data service navigates, reads, and writes in ASAM Transport Format (ATF) files and ASAM-compliant databases. Select File»ASAM Data Service to open the ASAM data service. To register GPI file filters from earlier DIAdem installations, select Settings»Options»Extensions»GPI Extensions. After you register files that have special formats, you can select File»Open or you can select Open With from the shortcut menu, to load the files, or your can drag and drop the files. Managing Internal Data in the Data Portal The Data Portal manages the data that you load in DIAdem NAVIGATOR. Every panel in DIAdem works with the internal data from the Data Portal. The Data Portal contains numeric channels, waveform channels, time channels, and text channels. The Data Portal organizes the channels in groups and displays the properties. DIAdem only loads internal data from the Data Portal temporarily in the workspace. The changes you make to the internal data are not stored until you save the data to a file or to a database. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 2-9 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

24 Chapter 2 Finding and Managing Data Working with Channels DIAdem organizes data in channels: a numeric channel contains measurement values from a sensor, and a time channel contains the associated time values. All DIAdem panels work with channels. For example, you can select two channels in DIAdem ANALYSIS for an FFT calculation, and in DIAdem REPORT you can use the channel index to select a channel for displaying a curve. Use channel groups to organize channels in the Data Portal. When you load a data file by dragging and dropping the file from DIAdem NAVIGATOR to the Data Portal, DIAdem creates a new channel group. Channel groups help you prepare and describe data for evaluation and presentation. For example, the Emission channel group contains all the channels from a car emissions test. DIAdem designates the last channel group that you load into the Data Portal as the default group. DIAdem stores channels for which you do not specify a channel group, such as the channels calculated in DIAdem ANALYSIS, in the default group. DIAdem writes the group names of the default group in bold. For example, use the shortcut menu to designate the channel group Emission as the default group, and smooth the channel Auto_Exhaust. DIAdem saves the result channel Smoothed in the Emission default group. You use the shortcut menu in the Data Portal to edit internal data, single channel groups, and channels. You delete internal data at the root. You can create and delete channels and channel groups, change channel names and channel group names, move channels and channel groups, and copy and load channels into the Data Portal. The structure view in the Data Portal organizes channels hierarchically into channel groups. The list view lists all channels in a table and sorts the channels according to the properties you specify. When DIAdem accesses channels in an axis system or in a calculation, the channel is referenced by the group index combined with the channel name. Select Settings»Options»General to specify the channel reference as another combination of the group name or the group index and the channel name or the channel index. The group index is the position of the group in the Data Portal and the channel index is the position of the channel in the group. Refer to the Calculating with Channels section of Chapter 3, Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions, for more information about channel references. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 2-10 ni.com

25 Chapter 2 Finding and Managing Data Creating New Channels DIAdem creates new channels for different actions. DIAdem NAVIGATOR creates new channels when you load data. In DIAdem ANALYSIS, calculations store results in new channels. In DIAdem SCRIPT you can create new channels with script commands for copying channels or for calculating channels. In DIAdem VIEW you can create channels manually. Select Create New Channel from the shortcut menu of a channel table. You can enter the channel data in the channel table or you can use the Generate function to create data series. To create a channel group, select New»Group from the shortcut menu of the Data Portal. Do not use the same name twice for channel groups or for channels of a channel group. DIAdem then automatically adds an index to the name. Numeric Channels, Waveform Channels, Time Channels, and Text Channels DIAdem works with different channel types: numeric channels, waveform channels, time channels, and text channels. The symbol that DIAdem displays in front of the channel in the Data Portal identifies the channel type. A numeric channel contains acquired values such as the measurement values from a sensor, calculation results, input values, or values loaded from files. DIAdem can use any numeric channel from the Data Portal for calculations and displays. Waveform channels contain the x-part and the y-part of a curve in a channel. The x-part is often the time information that LabVIEW, for example, saves as a linear generation specification with a start value and a step width. The y-part can include measured values, calculation results, or input values. Use waveform channels in calculations and curve displays as the y-channel and do not specify an x-channel. Time channels contain, for example, the time values of a measurement. In a time channel, DIAdem saves the seconds that have elapsed since the year zero to the current time point. You can specify any format for the display of time data. Use the Generate Time Channel function in DIAdem ANALYSIS, for example, to create time channels. A time channel is often the x-channel for calculations and for displays of the associated measurement values in numeric channels. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 2-11 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

26 Chapter 2 Finding and Managing Data Organizing 2D Data and 3D Data Editing and Creating Data Properties Text channels contain text, for example, observations and comments. DIAdem saves text channels in unicode. Unicode characters include Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic characters. Use text channels in tables in DIAdem VIEW and DIAdem REPORT. You can edit text channels in channel tables in DIAdem VIEW. DIAdem works with single channels. To display curves in DIAdem VIEW and in DIAdem REPORT, use one channel or several channels. If you drag and drop one channel into a 2D axis system, DIAdem uses an index to display a numeric channel and uses the x-part to display a waveform channel. If you drag and drop several channels into a 2D axis system, the first channel selected in the Data Portal is automatically the x-channel of the curves. Even if an axis system already displays a curve, you can still select one or more channels in the Data Portal and add more curves to the axis system. An axis system can simultaneously display several channels individually and as various pairs. For displaying three-dimensional data, DIAdem REPORT and DIAdem ANALYSIS read data as a matrix or as triples. A value triple consists of three data channels in DIAdem: one channel each for the x-value, the y-value, and the z-value. A DIAdem matrix consists of an x-channel, a y-channel, and several z-channels. The number of z-channels must be the same as the number of values in the y-channel. The z-channels must be the same length as the x-channel. In the TDM file format, DIAdem saves properties and comments with the mass data. For example, the data set properties in DIAdem contain the name of the author and the storage date, the channel group properties contain the name of the measurement and comments, and the channel properties contain the data type and the unit for the channels. DIAdem displays the properties in the bottom area of the Data Portal. If the properties do not appear in the Data Portal, click the bottom edge of the Data Portal and drag open the properties window. When you click the root of the tree view in the structure view, the data set properties appear. When you click a group name or a channel name, the properties of the channel group or of the channel appear in the properties area. Double-click a property field to edit the property. Read-only channel properties, such as maximum length, and monotony, appear dimmed in the properties area. Changeable properties, highlighted in white, include the DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 2-12 ni.com

27 Chapter 2 Finding and Managing Data Saving Internal Data name and the unit. You can use the register variables to save additional information about a channel. You can add properties to channels, to channel groups, and to the data set in the Data Portal. Custom properties provide the data with additional characteristics that are not included in the standard data model, and that the DataFinder can search for. Right-click a channel and select New»Custom Property from the shortcut menu to create a new property for this channel. Enter a name and select the data type. The property appears in the structure view and in the properties window of the Data Portal. Click the entry field in the properties window and enter a value for the new channel property. You can drag and drop the internal data of the Data Portal to save the data. To save all the internal data, drag and drop the root of the structure view into the file browser. To save selected channels, select the channels and channel groups you want to save and drag and drop the selected channels into the file browser. DIAdem saves your data in the folder that you drag and drop your internal data into in the file browser. If you drop data into a data file, DIAdem suggests this filename for the new data file in the Save As dialog box. DIAdem does not create the new data file until you click Save. By default, DIAdem saves data in TDM file format. The TDM file format saves the properties and the binary data in different files with the same name. DIAdem saves the data properties in a text file with the filename extension tdm, and the numeric data in a binary file with the filename extension tdx. When you save TDM files under Settings»Options» NAVIGATOR, you can specify that DIAdem automatically specifies the storage format of the numeric data to save memory space. For example, DIAdem then saves loaded integer data as 16-bit integer values. The Save As dialog box also offers other file formats as file types for exporting data. Select the DAT format to make the data accessible for applications that can only read DAT files. For example, save the data in DAT format to project data onto models in NI INSIGHT. Select the Excel format to evaluate data with Microsoft Office. You can use the Excel Export Wizard to transfer the data structure of the Data Portal to an Excel spreadsheet. Select the TDMS file format to save the binary data and the associated properties in a file. LabVIEW can append measured data to an existing TDMS file. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 2-13 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

28 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions 3 Using Standard Functions You can use DIAdem ANALYSIS to analyze data in the Data Portal with mathematical functions. The dialog boxes for the standard mathematical functions guide you through the calculation so you do not have to enter a formula. You select the input data and make the settings you want. Use the Calculator to define and calculate your own formulas. For complex calculations that are repeated, you can write scripts. Save your results in channels or in variables. DIAdem has extensive libraries with standard mathematical functions on several function bars in DIAdem ANALYSIS. The functions include basic mathematics such as differentiation, signal analysis such as FFT, and 3D analysis such as isoline calculations. To use a standard function, click the button with the function you want. You select the calculation settings in the dialog box that opens. For example, if you want to smooth data, select Curve Fitting on the function bar and click the Smooth button shown here. Drag and drop the Channel that you want to smooth from the Data Portal into the channel selection field in the dialog box. Select the Max. smoothing width on one side (no. of points). If you have already used the smoothing function in your current work session, the last calculation settings appear in the dialog box. DIAdem stores the calculation result in new channels of the default group. You specify the default group in the shortcut menu of the Data Portal structure view. If you select Store result in original channel in a dialog box of a standard function, the function stores the result data in the original channels. Some standard functions such as the descriptive statistics function, save the calculated characteristic values in program variables. Other standard functions such as the approximation function, save the calculated coefficients as a custom property in the result channels or the input channels. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 3-1 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

29 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions If you call another standard function, DIAdem prompts you to apply the function to the result channels of the last calculation. You can use all the numeric channels, waveform channels, and time channels that are in the Data Portal to execute calculations. The DIAdem ANALYSIS workspace shows you which calculations you have run with which channels. Standard functions work with one or more channels. If a standard function processes several channels, for example, the Average channels function, a button with three dots appears next to the channel selection field. Select all the channels you want in the Data Portal and drag and drop the channels into the channel selection field. If you execute calculations with waveform channels, you need not specify an x-channel, because the waveform channel contains the x-part. If you do specify an x-channel, the results of the calculation are numeric channels. If a standard function works with several channels, you must use at least one waveform channel to obtain a waveform channel as the result. Which functions libraries you can use depends on which options your DIAdem installation has. Functions not included or enabled in your installation are dimmed in the DIAdem interface. You can obtain additional function libraries from NI. Refer to the Function Libraries section for more information. Calculating Formulas in the Calculator Entering Formulas Use the Calculator to analyze data with your own formulas. In formulas you can perform operations with numeric channels, waveform channels, and time channels and generate new channels. You can use the special text operations for calculating with text channels. You can calculate single values, save values in variables, and request variable contents. To open the Calculator, click the DIAdem ANALYSIS toolbar button shown on the left. Use the keyboard and the Calculator keys to enter your formula in the Enter field. The Calculator displays the calculated result in the result box. A formula consists of the assignment target, the delimiter, and the calculation instruction. Assignment target = Calculation instruction DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 3-2 ni.com

30 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions You usually enter a channel as the assignment target. However, you also can calculate a single value and assign the single value to a variable. In the calculation instruction you use operations on channels or variables. The tabs at the bottom left of the Calculator have numeric operations such as sine functions, Boolean operations such as AND, and text operations such as text length. For example, if you want to calculate the sine values for a channel, doubleclick Sin(Arg) on the Numeric Operations tab to enter the sine function in the Enter field. The cursor in the Enter field is automatically positioned in the argument section of the sine function, so you can double-click the channel you want in the Channels tab to paste the channel into your formula. In the Calculator, always use a decimal point as the decimal separator and enclose strings in quotation marks ("..."). Note To use the operations, channels, and variables tabs in the Calculator, click the Extended button. Calculating with Channels For example, to divide the Input channel by the Reference channel from the first channel group, enter the following formula in the Calculator Enter field: Ch("[1]/Result") = Ch("[1]/Input")/Ch("[1]/Reference") DIAdem divides each value of the Input channel by the corresponding value of the Reference channel. If the channels are different lengths, the result channel is the same length as the shorter channel. DIAdem stores the result in the Result channel in the first channel group. If the Result channel already exists in the first channel group, DIAdem overwrites the values. If you enter only the channel name without the group index, DIAdem stores the result channel in the default group of the Data Portal. If you calculate with channels in the Calculator, you must specify the channel exactly. To use channels in calculations, use the Ch variable and enclose the channel name in quotation marks. By default, DIAdem uses the group index and the channel name to create a unique channel reference. A channel reference can also consist of the group name or the group index combined with the channel name or the channel index. The group index is National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 3-3 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

31 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions the position of the group in the Data Portal and the channel index is the position of the channel in the group. If you know the names of the channel groups and of the channels of a data set, and the name of the first group is Group1, enter the following formula in the Enter field: Ch("Group1/Result") = Ch("Group1/Input")/Ch("Group1/ Reference") If you know the structure of a data set, you can use the group index and the channel index and enter the following formula in the Enter field: Ch("[1]/[5]") = Ch("[1]/[1]")/Ch("[1]/[2]") Note You also can use only the channel name for the channel reference. The channel reference is ambiguous if several channels in different groups of the Data Portal have the same name. Calculating with Variables and Single Values In the Calculator, you can store the values in variables, use variables in calculation instructions, and request variable values. The following examples show how to enter these three alternatives for the auxiliary variable R1 in the Enter field, for example: You assign the result of the square root of 8,391 to the variable R1. R1 = SQR(8.391) Enter a question mark after the variable name to request the value. The Calculator displays the value in the result box. R1? You multiply each value of the Input channel from the first channel group by the R1 variable. DIAdem stores the result values in the Result channel of the default group. Ch("Result") = Ch("[1]/Input")*R1 Tip To calculate a formula without saving the result, enter the calculation instruction in the Enter field and enter a question mark at the end. The Calculator shows the result in the result box. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 3-4 ni.com

32 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions Calculating in Scripts Calling Standard Functions Calculating Your Own Formulas Use scripts to automate complex calculations that you use repeatedly. In scripts, you can call standard functions or create your own formulas. A script is a VBS file that DIAdem processes line by line. To enter the following examples, generate a new script in DIAdem SCRIPT and enter the sample lines. Refer to the Chapter 5, Automating Sequences, for more information about scripts. In scripts, you can use all the standard mathematical functions available in DIAdem. Use the Call command to call standard functions. For example, to smooth the numeric channel Input with a smoothing width of 12, and to store the result in the Result channel in the first channel group, enter the following line in a script: Call ChnSmooth("[1]/Input","[1]/Result",12,"maxNumber") In scripts, you can also calculate your own formulas. For example, to divide the Input1 channel by the Reference channel from the first channel group, enter the following statement into a line in a script: Call ChnCalculate("Ch(""[1]/Result"") = Ch(""[1]/Input"")/Ch(""[1]/Reference"")") Use Call to call the Calculator function ChnCalculate. The formula is in quotation marks and the individual channel assignments are in double quotation marks. The formula has the same syntax as in the Calculator. Tip If you enable the recording mode on the DIAdem SCRIPT toolbar, DIAdem records the standard functions you call, and the formulas you calculate in the Calculator, with the complete syntax. Assigning Single Values In scripts, you also can assign values to variables. For example, to assign the square root of to the auxiliary variable R1, enter the following line in your script: R1 = SQR(8.931) National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 3-5 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

33 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions Using Variables Program Variables Auxiliary Variables DIAdem offers program variables, auxiliary variables, and user variables. Refer to the Using Variables section of Chapter 5, Automating Sequences, for more information about variables. Use program variables to set parameters for the command of a standard function in a script. You set the parameters in the same way as you make settings in the dialog box for the standard function. The SmoothWidth program variable specifies the smoothing width for the ChnSmooth command of the standard function Smooth. Some standard functions also save their results in program variables. For example, the StatArithMean variable contains the arithmetic mean of a channel when the characteristic statistical values are calculated. Several program variables are included on the Special Variables tab at the bottom right of the Calculator. These program variables contain information on the loaded channels, such as the maximum value of a channel in the CMax variable. Use auxiliary variables if you need a predefined variable that is not bound to a DIAdem command. In the Calculator, the auxiliary variables are listed on the Scalar Variables and Vectors tabs at the bottom right. You can assign a value to the auxiliary variable in the Variable Contents field next to the auxiliary variable. Double-click the name of the auxiliary variable to paste the auxiliary variable into your formula in the Enter field. Dynamic enumeration variables are text variables that provide various keywords for selection, such as the days of the week. You define the selection list for the dynamic enumeration variable G1 in the G1Var.asc text file. When you click Variable Contents for G1 at the bottom right of the Calculator, the selection list opens. User Variables Use user variables if you require project-specific variables that have unique names and special dimensions or data types. You define user variables in a variable definition file, which is a text file with the filename extension vas. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 3-6 ni.com

34 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions Defining MathScripts Unlike the program variables and the auxiliary variables, user variables are not automatically included with the standard DIAdem variables. First click Activate User Variables on the DIAdem SCRIPT toolbar to activate the variable definition file. You can then use your user variables in formulas and scripts. Use MathScripts to create special functions that you can call in DIAdem ANALYSIS at any time. To execute MathScripts, you must have LabVIEW Version 8.0 or a later version, with the MathScript option, installed on your computer. To create a MathScript, select MathScript»New MathScript. Enter MyMathScript as the name. You create the script in the script editor and specify the input and result channels. Enter single values directly into the dialog box, select single channels for vectors, and select several channels for matrices. MathScripts also can process text channels. If you conclude your entries with OK, DIAdem creates a compiled LabVIEW VI and adds this LabVIEW VI to the MathScript menu. Use the error search functions in LabVIEW to test a MathScript. To do this, select Tools»MathScript Window in LabVIEW. To call your MathScript, select MathScript»MyMathScript»Execute. You specify the calculation settings in the dialog box that opens. DIAdem stores the results of the single value calculations in the properties of the default group. If no group exists in the Data Portal, DIAdem creates the group MathScript_Results. If the result is a vector, DIAdem stores the values in a channel in the default group. If the result is a matrix, DIAdem stores the values in several channels of the default group. If you create a MathScript, DIAdem creates a compiled LabVIEW VI, a VBS script, and a definition file with the filename extension msc, on the SCRIPT user path. The script contains a procedure that calls the MathScript. Use this procedure as the basis for integrating the MathScript into your own VBS scripts. The definition file specifies the entry in the MathScript menu and the settings in the dialog box. If you modify a MathScript, DIAdem automatically updates all the associated files without requesting confirmation. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 3-7 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

35 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions Calculating with Invalid Values Measurement devices have a valid range for the measured values, for example, from 0 to 10 volts. During measurements, disturbances sometimes occur in the sensors, causing incorrect values. In DIAdem you can declare these outliers as invalid values. In DIAdem, invalid values are called NoValues. To identify a value as NoValue manually, overwrite the value in the channel table of DIAdem VIEW with NoValue or with NV for short. Standard functions exclude NoValues from calculations and the report in DIAdem REPORT does not display NoValues. The following figure shows the measurement signal on the left and the classification result on the right. The top figure shows the distortion and the bottom figure has been adjusted and shows NoValues. Amplitude [V] < Error > Amplitude [V] Time [s] Amplitude < NoValues > Time [s] Amplitude Figure 3-1. The Measured Signal with Distortion and with NoValues on the Left, and the Result of a Classification on the Right You can use NoValues to eliminate entire ranges, not just single values, from a numeric channel, a waveform channel, or a time channel. For example, if you want to eliminate values that are greater than ten from the Sensor channel, because you know that the sensor used does not return higher values, enter the following formula in the Calculator Enter field: Ch("Group1/Sensor")= Ch("Group1/Sensor")+CTNV(Ch("Group1/Sensor")>10) DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 3-8 ni.com

36 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions The Boolean request Ch("Group1/Sensor)>10 checks whether a channel value exceeds the specified limit value 10. If the channel value exceeds the limit, the result is True, otherwise the result is False. The CTNV function checks the results and returns NoValue for True, otherwise it returns 0. The result of addition with a channel is either the original channel value or NoValue. This replaces all values greater than 10 with NoValues. Note When calculating with NoValues, the result of an operation is a NoValue if one of the terms is a NoValue. Tip You can use the Process NoValues function on the Channel Functions function bar to delete NoValues in channels, to replace NoValues by a value or to replace NoValues by linear interpolation of the neighboring values. Function Libraries Basic Mathematical Functions DIAdem includes an extensive library of standard mathematical functions for analyzing your data. These functions are arranged by category on the DIAdem ANALYSIS function bars: Basic mathematical functions Channel calculation functions Curve fitting functions Signal analysis functions Statistics and classification functions 3D analysis functions Crash analysis functions The Basic Mathematics function bar includes standard functions such as addition, multiplication, scaling, reciprocal value calculation, summation, differentiation, and integration. The Add function adds two or more channels rowwise. If the channels are different lengths, the result channel is the same length as the shorter channel. If you need the reciprocal of each channel value, use the Calculate Reciprocal function. Use the Offset Correction function to subtract a constant from the channel values or to add a constant to the channel values. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 3-9 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

37 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions Channel Calculation Functions Curve Fitting Functions Signal Analysis Functions The Calculate Differences function determines the intervals between the values of a channel. The Channel Functions bar includes functions such as generating numeric channels and time channels, converting numeric channels into waveform channels and vice versa, peak search, and processing NoValues. The Sort Channel Values function sorts the values of a channel in ascending order. You also can specify other channels, such as text channels, to move the values of these associated channels accordingly. LabVIEW measurements return waveform channels that contain the measured sensor signal and the time information, as a linear generation specification. Because waveform channels already include the x-part, you can calculate and display waveform channels in DIAdem without specifying an x-channel. A mathematical function returns a waveform channel as a result channel if the input channel is a waveform channel. If a mathematical function requires several input channels, at least one input channel must be a waveform channel for the result channel to be a waveform channel. If you use multiple waveform input channels, the x-parts of the waveform channels must be the same for the function to return a waveform channel as the result channel. The Curve Fitting function bar includes functions such as smoothing, envelope curve calculation, regression, approximation, spline calculation, and linear mapping. You can use the various functions on this function bar to calculate a curve from a series of points. The curve reflects the original series of points as closely as possible according to specific criteria. Use the Linear Mapping function to recalculate the signals from two measurements with different time channels to a common time basis. If you select one of the two time channels as the common time basis, DIAdem interpolates and extrapolates the missing values. DIAdem stores the calculated coefficients of the Approximation and the Regression functions as custom properties in the result channels. The Signal Analysis function bar includes Fast Fourier Transformation, digital filters, frequency-weighted acceleration, and order analysis, which you use to check vibrations for frequency characteristics. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 3-10 ni.com

38 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) Use FFT to transfer signals from the time domain to the frequency domain and back. For example, each button you press on a telephone makes a different sound, each of which consists of two sine oscillations. The exchange receives this tone and can detect which number you have dialed. In the time domain, the sound you create when you press nine is difficult to distinguish from number five. The exchange runs an FFT on the received sound, because the sounds can be clearly distinguished in the frequency domain. In DIAdem you can calculate the FFT for one time signal, the Inverse FFT for retransformation from the frequency domain into the time domain, and the FFT for two time signals such as the autocorrelation or the cross correlation. DIAdem calculates a FFT for the entire length of the specified channels, even if the channel length is not a power of two. The autocorrelation checks a signal for periodic characteristics by moving a copy of the signal along the signal on the time axis. The cross correlation uses the same method to check two different signals for similarities. The third/octave analysis checks the volume in the frequency domain, not the exact frequency distribution in the signal. The third/octave analysis sums up the amplitude values in the FFT in standardized logarithmic frequency intervals, similar to the following figure: Ampl_Peak Octave Frequencies Frequency [Hz] Ampl_Peak 10 1 Third Frequencies Octave Third 0.1 Amplitude Frequency [Hz] Figure 3-2. Third Octave Analysis of a Signal Each Octave Consists of Three Thirds National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 3-11 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

39 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions Digital Filters With the Digital Filter function, you can attenuate or amplify selected frequency characteristics of a signal. You can choose from various filters, such as lowpass, bandpass, and bandstop, which only transfer certain frequency characteristics of the signal. The allpass filter, which lets through all the frequencies, is for signal delay and correcting phase distortion. You can use the various filters as IIR filters and FIR filters. If, for example, a high-frequency distortion signal interferes with the actual measurement signal, you can filter out the distortion. To do this, enter the highest frequency in the useful part of the signal as the limit frequency for the Lowpass filtering mode. The lowpass filters out all the distortion frequencies above this limit. Frequency-Weighted Acceleration The functions in Frequency-Weighted Acceleration are for calculating the extent to which measured vibrations affect the human body, in vehicles and at the workplace. For example, to test the extent to which vehicle vibrations affect drivers, you can mount various vibration sensors on the seat and use the Frequency-Weighted Acceleration function to analyze the acceleration signals measured. Order Analysis The Order Analysis functions compare the frequencies in a signal to a reference frequency. The calculated order specifies the multiple from the measured signal to the reference frequency. For example, the second order means that the analyzed frequency is double the reference frequency. As DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 3-12 ni.com

40 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions shown in the following figure, you can run order analysis in the time domain or in the frequency domain: FFT Spectrum Amplitude Frequency 2. Order 4. Order 6. Order Order RPM Order Spectrum Amplitude RPM 0 0 Order Statistics Functions Figure 3-3. Order Analysis in the Frequency Domain (above) and in the Time Domain (below) Use order analysis to analyze noises and vibrations that are measured in engines and engine components. In engine acceleration tests, the relation between the vibration and the RPM is more important than the vibration frequency over time. The Statistics function bar has the Descriptive Statistics function for calculating the characteristic statistical values, such as the mean, the quantile, and the dispersion values. You can calculate the statistical characteristic values rowwise for several channels, for one entire channel, and for specific channel sections. For example, you are testing the pressure resistance of cement. You run pressure tests on 25 blocks and measure the pressure under which the blocks crush. From the test results, you can calculate the arithmetic mean, the standard deviation, and the lowest and highest pressure. DIAdem stores the calculated characteristic values in result channels, as custom properties in the input channels, and in the appropriate program variables National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 3-13 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

41 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions Classification Functions StatArithMean, StatDeviation, StatMin, and StatMax. You can enter these variables as text in DIAdem REPORT, so you can always record the latest characteristic statistical values in your report. Use the Process Capability function to specify the process capability indexes Cp, Cpk, CpL, and CpU. You also can calculate the mean values and the standard deviations from the process, and various approximations for the number of incorrect parts. DIAdem stores the calculated characteristic process values in the appropriate variables and in the custom properties of the input channels. The Statistics function bar includes classification functions for determining frequency distributions for measured values. DIAdem divides the value range into classes, and counts how many measured values each class contains. For example, you want to compare engine tests on test rigs to data from test drives. You select the required oil changes as the criterion. You count the oil changes per thousand kilometers and classify your results. The following figure presents the counts as curves and the classification results as a histogram: Figure 3-4. Classifying Two Test Series DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 3-14 ni.com

42 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions 3D Analysis Functions Compound Classification classifies two related channels simultaneously, not just one channel. The result of compound classification is a 3D matrix. if you want to classify one or more channels that correspond to the signal, but not the signal itself, you can use Reducing Classification. Rainflow Classification Use rainflow classification to examine signals, in particular strain-time functions, for special events such as overshooting strain levels, or strain changes. If you want to test the duration of a spring, for example, you prepare a test schedule that subjects one hundred springs to oscillations ranging from 10 Hz to 10 khz. You count the number of strain runs until the spring breaks. In the rainflow matrix, you enter the runs in relation to the oscillations. You can display the results as a matrix. Use the 3D analysis function bars to display your measurement data threedimensionally. For a characteristic diagram of an engine, as displayed in the following figure, DIAdem calculates the contours and the boundary curve from engine data. Eff. Pressure [bar] PRed BEff RPM [1/min] Figure 3-5. Characteristic Diagram with Isolines for Engine Performance and Fuel Consumption over RPM and Compression Ratio National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 3-15 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

43 Chapter 3 Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions Crash Analysis Functions You can organize 3D data as triples or matrices in DIAdem. DIAdem executes the Calculate Contour Lines function with data in matrices or triples. For 3D displays such as matrices, contours, or waterfall displays, DIAdem requires a matrix structure and requires a triple structure to display a 3D curve. The 3D Basic Functions include functions for converting the triple structure into the matrix structure and vice versa. The Crash Analysis function bar contains functions for analyzing measurement data from vehicle safety tests. You can use the functions to calculate standardized injury criteria. For example, use the Head Injury Criterion to assess head injuries, the Neck Injury Criterion for the neck area, the Viscous Criterion for the chest area, and the Tibia Index for the leg area. The calculations are executed according to the current SAE, ISO, and NHTSA specifications. For digital phaseless filtering, you can choose from CFC60, CFC180, CFC600, CFC1000, and FIR100. The example Crash Evaluation Based on the MME Standard shows an analysis of test data for vehicle safety, with a report. You can start this application example in the DIAdem help. This example uses a script to guide you through the analysis of a front or side impact, in three steps. The following figure shows the report for head acceleration in frontal impact. Figure 3-6. Crash Evaluation of the Head Acceleration in a Frontal Crash DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 3-16 ni.com

44 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation 4 DIAdem provides several panels for displaying and presenting data. You use DIAdem VIEW to view your data, to graphically analyze curve sections, and to edit your data, for example, to correct errors. You use DIAdem REPORT to create a multi-page report that documents your data and presents your results. You can use NI INSIGHT, which is a separate program, to project measured data or simulated data onto 3D models. With NI INSIGHT you display temperatures as color shading on a crash test dummy, for example, or you display strain on bridge elements as deformation. For further information on NI INSIGHT visit ni.com/insight. Graphically Analyzing and Editing Data Worksheet Design You use DIAdem VIEW to view the data of the Data Portal, to graphically analyze curve sections, and to edit data. Curves in 2D axis systems show the course of the channel values. You examine the curves with the curve cursor, zoom curve sections, and delete or replace curve points. Channel tables show the values of numeric channels, waveform channels, time channels, and text channels. You can edit and delete values in channel tables, and generate new channels. If you modify curves or edit channels, DIAdem saves the changes in the Data Portal. If you record a video of the test simultaneously with the recording of the data, you can compare the video with the data curve. You can label worksheets with text and illustrate them with graphics. You can combine axis systems, channel tables, videos, text, and graphics in your worksheet. To do this, you partition the worksheet. The function bars have templates for partitioning the worksheet into varying numbers of sections in different positions. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 4-1 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

45 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation For example, if you want to display your data as a curve in an axis system and list the numeric values in a channel table, divide the worksheet into two areas. Open the Assigned Worksheet Partitions function bar and click the 2D Axis System/Horizontal Channel Table button shown here. DIAdem inserts an axis system in the top area and a channel table in the bottom area. To display a curve, select a channel in the Data Portal and drag and drop the channel into the axis system. DIAdem VIEW displays a numeric channel with its index and a waveform channel with its x-part. To display one or more curves over one x-channel click the x-channel first in the Data Portal, for example, Time. Then press <Ctrl> and click the numeric y-channels, for example Pressure and Temperature. Drag and drop these channels into the axis system. DIAdem VIEW displays the pressure and the temperature as curves over time. If you drag a channel group into an axis system, DIAdem automatically selects the first channel in the channel group as the x-channel. If you drag and drop several waveform channels into an axis system, DIAdem displays the waveform channels over their x-parts. To list data in channel tables, select channels, a channel group, or a data set, in the Data Portal. Drag and drop the channels into the channel table. DIAdem VIEW lists each channel in a column, with the channel name as the heading. Editing Layouts You can load a prepared layout as a template. The layout file contains the description of all the areas and references to the channels, videos, or graphics to be displayed. Layout files may contain several worksheets and have the filename extension tdv. Move the frame to resize any area of a worksheet. However, you cannot move areas to another position on the worksheet. To add new areas, use the shortcut menu to split an area, or select different worksheet partitions with more areas. If you select worksheet partitions with fewer areas, the contents of the surplus areas are deleted. If you select one of the worksheet templates from the Assigned Worksheet Partitions function bar, DIAdem creates a new worksheet that has areas with specific display types. You use the shortcut menu to specify and to change the display type of the area. To define an area as an axis system, right-click the area and select Display Type»2D Axis System from the shortcut menu. If you select the display type Channel Table for an axis system, DIAdem lists the values of the channels that are displayed as curves, in a channel table. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 4-2 ni.com

46 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation Viewing Data as Curves Which options the DIAdem VIEW shortcut menu contains, depends on where you right-click. For example, to insert another worksheet right-click the worksheet tab and select New from the shortcut menu. Select Manage to change the order of the worksheets or the tab labels. To document the current view of your data in a report you can transfer your worksheet to DIAdem REPORT. Click the Transfer to REPORT button shown here, on the DIAdem VIEW toolbar. DIAdem REPORT generates a new worksheet with axis systems and tables in the same layout as in the DIAdem VIEW worksheet. DIAdem REPORT offers functions for the final presentation and documentation of your results. Use axis systems for an overall view of your data. If the x-channel and the y-channel of a curve are not the same length, the curve is as long as the shorter channel. Double-click the axis system to open the 2D Display dialog box, where you add, copy, modify, or delete curves. You can select lines, spikes, or stair curves, and use markers to highlight curve points. You can change the y-axis scaling to make it easier to compare curves that have different y-value ranges in one axis system. Click 1 System[%] on the axis system toolbar to display each curve in the value range from 0 100%. Drag open the legend on the right side of the axis system. The legend contains the y-channel name and a checkbox, which is the same color as the curve, for each of the curves. The legend can display other channel properties such as extreme values or the cursor coordinates. To configure the legend, click Select Properties in the axis system shortcut menu. To copy a curve to another axis system, click next to the checkbox of the curve and drag the selected checkbox to another axis system. To delete a curve, select the curve and press <Del>. Zooming Curve Sections To enlarge and inspect curves in an axis system, select the band zoom or the frame zoom on the toolbar of the axis system. Specify the zoom with the width of the band or the frame which you drag open with the mouse. Click Zoom In to increase the zoom stepwise and Zoom Out to undo the zoom steps. Click Zoom Off, to see the whole curve again. Use the Move function to move the curves horizontally and vertically in the axis system, independently of the zoom. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 4-3 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

47 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation To view and to enlarge curves in several axis systems select the band cursor or the frame cursor on the DIAdem VIEW toolbar. All the axis systems in a worksheet have the same band cursor or frame cursor and display the cursor in analog value ranges. The zoom you specify with the band cursor or frame cursor applies for all axis systems. The narrower the band cursor, the more the section is enlarged. You enable and disable zooming and scrolling on the toolbar of the axis systems. If you examine a section of a curve, and you want to see the entire curve at the same time, you define two axis systems with the same curve definition. One of the axis systems displays the whole curve and the other axis system zooms a section of the same curve. Click Band Cursor on the DIAdem VIEW toolbar, and click Scroll in Cursor Range on the toolbar of the second axis system. If you now move the band cursor within the overview axis system, the zoomed axis system displays the section of the curve inside the band cursor. Analyzing Curves Each axis system has a graphics cursor, which you move along the curve manually with the mouse or with the arrow keys, or which you move automatically with the operating functions on the toolbar. To change the playback speed of the automatic graphic cursor, click the Cursor Parameters button shown here, on the toolbar. The standard graphics cursor is a crosshair cursor with three settings: freely movable, following the curve, or jumping to minimum values or maximum values. To examine the maximum values on a curve, select Maximum Values Cursor on the toolbar. If you move the graphic cursor along the curve, the crosshair jumps from one maximum value to the next. DIAdem displays the x-values and the y-values of the data points on the status bar and in a tooltip at the crosshair cursor that follows the cursor. To view the x-values and the y-values of the individual maximum values in the coordinates display, click Coordinates on the DIAdem VIEW toolbar. If one axis system has several curves, the graphics cursor moves along the leading curve. To specify the leading curve, select the checkbox for the curve in the legend. If the individual curves have different x-values, DIAdem uses the interpolation function to calculate the x-values on the other curves that are associated with an x-value on the leading curve, and displays the interpolated x-values in the coordinates display. If your worksheet contains several axis systems, the graphic cursors move along the same value ranges in the other axis systems. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 4-4 ni.com

48 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation Editing Curves Evaluating Videos and Curves You also can edit curves in the axis systems. For example, if a curve has erroneous sections or outliers, you can replace the erroneous curve points. The functions Flags: Remove Data Points, Flags: Copy Data Points, and Flags: Interpolate NoValues edit only the curve points that you selected previously with flags. Click the Band Cursor on the DIAdem VIEW toolbar to select a curve section. Set the band cursor to a width that encloses the vertical lines of the curve section you want. In the axis system toolbar, click the Set Flags button shown here to select all the curve points in this section of the leading curve. If you want to select the curve points of all the curves in this curve section, <Shift>-click Set Flags. You delete selected curve points or curve sections with Flags: Remove all Data Points on the toolbar of the axis system. Select Settings»Options» VIEW to specify whether DIAdem deletes the curve points from the respective channels, or replaces the curve points with NoValues. You copy selected curve points or curve sections with Flags: Copy Data Points on the toolbar of the axis system. DIAdem creates new channels for each selected curve, in the default group of the Data Portal. You can regenerate deleted sections which you replaced with NoValues with Flags: Interpolate NoValues on the toolbar of the axis system. Select Settings»Options»VIEW to specify whether DIAdem applies linear interpolation or interpolates with a spline function. The calculated values replace the NoValues that are marked with flags, in the channels of the curves. You also can select several sections to delete, to copy, or to interpolate all the marked curve points. Use the crosshair cursor and click Set Data point and Flag in the axis system toolbar to mark single points. To remove flags from curves, click Remove Flags from All Data on the DIAdem VIEW toolbar. Use video areas to evaluate data and videos that were recorded simultaneously. Previously, you could only execute these evaluations with NI INSIGHT and DIAdem CLIP. If you select Video as the display type from the shortcut menu of an area, DIAdem VIEW opens the dialog box where you can select the video file. DIAdem supports the video formats National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 4-5 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

49 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation that have the filename extensions avi, mpg, and mpeg. To load another video into an open video area, double-click the video area. To view a complete video, use the operating functions on the DIAdem VIEW toolbar. DIAdem does not enable the operating functions until you click a video area or an axis system. To inspect specific points or a period of time more closely, use the curve cursor in the axis system. For example, if an unexpected event occurs in the test, move the curve cursor to the respective curve points. DIAdem VIEW shows the video and the curve synchronized over time. Synchronizing Videos and Data DIAdem VIEW synchronizes videos and curves using the time channel of the axis system and the frame frequency of the video. When DIAdem loads the video file, DIAdem reads the frame frequency and sets 0 as the start time. The start time specifies in seconds the time of the measurement value in the first video frame. In most cases, for example if you record the video with a camcorder, you can apply these settings. Depending on the data acquisition rate, DIAdem displays the same video frame for several measured values. For example, if the data acquisition rate is 100 khz and the frame frequency is 1,000 frames per second (1 khz), the video frame changes at every 100th data point on a curve. Select Synchronization from the shortcut menu of the video area to modify the start time and the frame frequency of the video. If the time channel of the axis system returns an absolute time range with the date and time, and not the measurement time of the test in seconds, you must convert the start time into the internal DIAdem time format, which is the number of seconds that have elapsed since the year zero. To do this, use the TTR command. If you run the video or move the graphic cursor in the axis system after you synchronize the video, DIAdem moves the cursor synchronously to the video. If the video time range is not the same as the time range of the measurement data, you must specify the play range in which the measurement data overlaps with the video. To specify the beginning and the end of the play range, position the band cursor within the time range during which the video was recorded, in the axis system. Then click the Cursor Parameters button shown here on the toolbar and clear the Specify play range automatically checkbox. Click Apply cursor position to apply the positions of the band cursor for the beginning and the end of the play range. If you now use the operating functions, the graphic cursor moves in the axis system and the video moves only within the play range. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 4-6 ni.com

50 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation Editing and Entering Data in Channel Tables Using Text and Graphics for Design Use channel tables to edit and to display the contents of numeric channels, waveform channels, text channels, and time channels, and to enter new values. The channel table displays channels columnwise. The table heading includes the channel properties such as the channel name and the channel length. Click the top edge of a column frame to move channels or to remove channels from the table. Click a data field to delete or to overwrite the value or the text. Double-click a data field to edit the value or the text. If you select several data fields in a column or in neighboring columns, you can use the Block Operations from the shortcut menu to edit the data block. In the channel table you can create new channels and fill the channels with values. Select Create New Channel from the shortcut menu. Enter a channel name and specify the display format, for example, Numeric for a numeric channel. DIAdem creates the new channel in the default group of the Data Portal and adds the channel to the channel table at the same time. You can now enter channel values or use the Generate function in the shortcut menu to generate data rows. Select Display from the shortcut menu to specify which channels from the DIAdem VIEW Data Portal DIAdem displays and refreshes automatically, for example, after a calculation. The channel table can display all the channels of the Data Portal, a specific channel group, or only the selected channels. To display other channel properties such as the maximum value, or user-defined custom properties, in the table heading, select Select Properties from the shortcut menu. You also can select a property such as Maximum from the properties window of the Data Portal and drag and drop the property into the channel table. You can label worksheets with text and illustrate them with graphics. Select the Textbox display type for an area to add headings or comments to a worksheet. After you double-click the textbox, you can enter text and variable information, for example, you can enter the current date You also can select a property, such as the name of the data set, in the properties window of the Data Portal, and drag and drop the property to the textbox. Use the shortcut menu to refresh the variable contents at any time. Refer to the Variable Formatting section for more information. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 4-7 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

51 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation Select Display from the shortcut menu to modify the display of the text and of the variable contents, such as the font size. Use the Graphic display type for an area to insert a picture of the test rig or a company logo into a worksheet. Double-click the graphic to load the picture. DIAdem supports all common graphic formats. When you insert graphics, DIAdem generates a link to the graphics file. DIAdem saves the link with the path in the layout. When you load a layout, DIAdem only can display the graphic if the graphics file is still in this folder. Creating Reports You use DIAdem REPORT to create a report that documents your data and presents your results. A report can consist of several worksheets that include axis systems, tables, text, and graphics. Axis systems display data in curves or bar diagrams and tables list channel contents. You can label worksheets with text and illustrate them with graphics. Creating a Report A report may consist of several worksheets with different views of your data. You save the design of all the worksheets in a report, and the links to the report data, in the layout. You can reuse layouts as templates for similar reports. Worksheet Design To display data as curves in a 2D axis system, for example, open the 2D Axis Systems function bar and click the Simple 2D Axis System button shown here. A small rectangle appears at the cursor. Click and drag open a frame at the position you want to have the 2D axis system in the worksheet. To display a curve, select a channel in the Data Portal and drag and drop the channel into the axis system. DIAdem REPORT displays a numeric channel with its index and a waveform channel with its x-part. To display one or more curves over one x-channel click the x-channel first in the Data Portal, for example, Time. Then press <Ctrl> and click the numeric y-channels, for example Pressure and Temperature. Drag and drop these channels into the axis system. DIAdem REPORT displays the pressure and the temperature as curves over time. If you drag a channel DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 4-8 ni.com

52 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation group into an axis system, DIAdem automatically selects the first channel in the channel group as the x-channel. If you drag and drop several waveform channels into an axis system, DIAdem displays the waveform channels over their x-parts. To create another worksheet, right-click the name of a worksheet in the tab bar and select New from the shortcut menu. Select Manage from the shortcut menu to change the order of the worksheets, to rename and to delete worksheets. To insert worksheets from an existing layout, select File»Append Layout. To specify the page orientation for the worksheets of a report, select Settings»Layout Setup»Worksheet Parameters. Use the portrait format for tables and the landscape format for diagrams on the other worksheets in a report. You can print your report, or you can export your report as a graphic, an HTML file, or a PDF file. To save the current worksheet as a graphic in one of the common formats, select File»Export. To save the report as an HTML file, select File»HTML Export. DIAdem creates an HTML file with the names of the graphics files created by each worksheet. To save the report as a multipage PDF file, select File»PDF Export. Using the Chart Wizard Use the Chart Wizard to display or to edit data in 2D axis systems or in polar axis systems. In three steps you select the type of diagram, specify the channels with the data to be displayed, and specify the display. If you enable the preview, DIAdem shows how each setting you make in the Chart Wizard effects the worksheet. When you click Finish, DIAdem applies your settings to create the new worksheet or the new axis system. If you click Cancel, DIAdem restores the original status. You can open the Chart Wizard at several points in DIAdem REPORT. If you want to create a new worksheet, open the Chart Wizard from the DIAdem REPORT toolbar. If you want to display the channels selected in the Data Portal, open the Chart Wizard from the shortcut menu of the Data Portal. If you want to insert a 2D axis system or a polar axis system in a worksheet, open the Chart Wizard from the 2D Axis Systems function bar or the Polar Axis Systems function bar. If you want to edit a 2D axis system or a polar axis system, open the Chart Wizard from the shortcut menu of the axis system. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 4-9 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

53 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation Editing Objects You can position and resize objects such as axis systems, tables, text, graphics, and lines anywhere in the worksheet. To make it easier for you to see which objects you can select, DIAdem displays an object in a blue frame as soon as the mouse cursor idles on the object. To zoom in or out on an object, click the object. DIAdem selects an object and frames the object with a dashed line that has small squares in the corners and on the sides. Drag the squares at the sides to change the width and the height. Drag the squares at the corners to zoom the object in and out while maintaining the proportions. Press <Ctrl> at the same time, to change the size but keep the center. You can select several objects and move and zoom them together. You can align selected objects and scale the size of the objects. The dashed frame around the object group is the reference point for DIAdem. To make an axis system and a table the same width, click the Align Width button shown here, on the toolbar. If you have a table to the lower right of an axis system, DIAdem sets the width at the left edge of the axis system and the right edge of the table. Most objects consist of several subobjects, such as axes, axis text, and curves. You can select and edit each subobject. You can move a selected axis text, use the functions on the format bar to format the text, or doubleclick the text to open the dialog box where you can change the text. You can edit the common properties of several selected objects. If you select an axis system and a text, for example, you cannot set parameters for the objects, because the objects do not have any common properties. However, if you select an axis text and a heading, you can change the font for both texts on the format bar. Displaying Objects You can superimpose axis systems, tables, text, and graphics in a worksheet. The superimposed objects are visible because the backgrounds are transparent. To highlight a text in an axis system, select White for the text background. DIAdem displays objects in the order that you insert the objects. The new objects are in the foreground. You can change the order of the objects. To position a new graphic behind an existing axis system, for example, right-click on the graphic and select Move to Background from the shortcut menu. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 4-10 ni.com

54 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation When you move an axis system, DIAdem only redisplays the axis system you move, which moves the axis system into the foreground. Click Refresh on the toolbar, to display all the objects in the correct order. Numeric Formatting You use format instructions to specify the display of numbers on axes and in tables. You select the numbers that are to be formatted in the worksheet and select the type of numeric display in the dialog box. To format the numbers in a table, double-click the numbers in a column. DIAdem opens the table definition on the Column Properties tab. To use a format instruction, click the button that is shown here, which is next to the entry field for the format. Select Number as the category, for example, and set 2 as the number of decimal places. DIAdem displays the numbers in this column as decimals with two places after the decimal point. To format time data, use the categories Date, Time, or Date/time. Select a Region to specify whether the order of the separate parts of the date, and the separators, are displayed according to the European or to the North American standards. To adapt a format instruction, complete the following two steps. For example, select the format instruction that you prefer, for the date June 01. Then select the category User-defined. Change the format instruction #ttt YY to #ttt YYYY and check the Preview to see whether DIAdem displays the date with a four-digit year. Variable Formatting Use the Str function to display formatted numeric variable contents. For example, to display the current median value with four decimal places, enter the following line in a The Str function converts the numeric contents of the StatMedian variable into text. The format definition d.dddd rounds off the fourth decimal place. For DIAdem, characters indicate a variable expression. Formatting with User Commands Use user commands, for example, to display data in a special format that is not available in DIAdem. You define user commands in DIAdem SCRIPT. Refer to the Defining User Commands section of Chapter 5, Automating Sequences, for more information about user commands. The following figure displays the same data in two axis systems that have x-axes in different formats. The top axis system displays the time in hours, National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 4-11 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

55 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation and the bottom axis system displays the time in days after 5,000 hours. The CalcRelFun user command in the UserCmdExample.vbs script generates the second format. The format specification for the x-axis in the bottom axis system contains the following command call with CFV (short for CurrentFormatValue) for the unformatted " :00:00")@@ Figure 4-1. User Commands Format the Time Axis To execute user commands when the report refreshes, select Settings» Layout Setup»Layout Parameters and enter user commands as Commands to perform. You can define user commands to format axis systems and tables, to read information from databases, and to execute calculations. Editing Layouts You save the descriptions of all the worksheets in your report in a layout file with the filename extension tdr. The layout file contains descriptions of all objects, such as axis systems, tables, or text, and the data links. You can alter or delete data assignments in the dialog boxes for the axis systems and tables. By default, DIAdem uses the channel name and the group index to assign the data channels in the report. This works well if the channels in the data files you evaluate always have the same channel name and are always in the same channel group. If the channel group is not always at the same position DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 4-12 ni.com

56 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation in the data files, but the group always has the same name, the channel assignment can also consist of the group name and the channel name. A report also can include channel references that consist of the group name or the group index and the channel name or the channel index. To specify the type of channel assignment select Settings»Options»General. However, if the channels in the data files you want to evaluate have different channel names, but are always at the same position in the data set, you also can use the channel numbers in DIAdem REPORT. The channel number appears in the list view of the Data Portal. Select Settings»Layout Setup» Layout Parameters to enable the name-oriented mode or the numberoriented mode. If you use the number-oriented channel reference mode, DIAdem displays the channel number in front of the channel name in the definitions of the axis systems and tables. If you enable the name-oriented mode, and enable the expansion mode, DIAdem displays the curves of all the channel pairs with the same channel name when you enter the curve definition, not only the curve of the first matching channel pair. After you define the channel assignment for an axis system, DIAdem searches the Data Portal for the first channel that has the specified x-channel name, such as Time. When DIAdem finds the x-channel, DIAdem searches for the associated y-channel, Speed. In the expansion mode, DIAdem searches to the end of the Data Portal for other Time/Speed channel pairs. Select Settings»Layout Setup»Layout Parameters»Curve Expansion to assign each curve its own set of display attributes. To enable DIAdem to find the channel names independently of the channel groups, select Settings»Options»General and select Only channel name as the Syntax. Creating Templates You can use the layout file as a template for other reports that have data in the same structure. If you select Settings»Options»REPORT you can specify a template file and the start file that DIAdem REPORT displays when it opens. DIAdem uses the template when you select File»New to create a new report. In the template, you can insert standard objects that every layout should include, such as the company logo. You can create a master layout to design a report that reflects your company standards. While you create your report, the master layout remains in the background and cannot be modified. To create a master layout, select File» Master Layout»New. A master layout consists of a Landscape Master and a Portrait Master. You design a master layout with graphics such as logos and sketches, with frames and lines, and with text such as the author, date, or test number. These details all appear, identically, on each sheet of National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 4-13 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

57 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation Inserting Report Objects a report. You also can use variables, for example, to automatically include the current date or the name of the data set. Select File»Master Layout» Save As to save the master layout with the filename extension tdrm. To add a master layout to a report, select Settings»Layout Setup»Layout Parameters. Click Master Layout and then click Select, to load a master layout. Click Refresh to apply the modified master layout settings. Click Remove to delete the master layout from the report. Page Format In DIAdem REPORT, you can specify the page format as relative or as scaled. A relative page format specifies the worksheet size as the height of the worksheet in relation to the width. In the print dialog box, enter the width of the printout corresponding to the selected paper format. The default DIAdem REPORT settings specify a ratio of 0.7 for A4 landscape format or 0.77 for letter landscape. If you select User defined as the page format, you can change the ratio. If you change the ratio you move the objects in your report, because you specify the position of the object as the distance from the edge, as a percentage of the width and height of the worksheet. For scaled page format, select Settings»Layout Setup»Layout Parameters and enter a fixed height and a fixed width for your worksheets. DIAdem always prints your report in the specified size, regardless of the paper format. If you select a scaled page layout, you can scale your axis system manually to ensure that DIAdem always prints the same number of units per centimeter, for example, 10 C/cm. On the function bars, DIAdem REPORT provides predefined objects for documenting your data. You can change the definitions on the function bars. The following objects are arranged by category in the DIAdem REPORT function bars: 2D axis systems Polar axis systems 3D axis systems 2D tables 3D tables Graphics Decorations DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 4-14 ni.com

58 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation Inserting Axis Systems Axis systems display channels as curves and as bar diagrams. Use a 2D axis system to display, for example, velocity over time as a curve. Use a polar axis system to display, for example, the sensitivity of a microphone in a circle diagram. Use a 3D axis system to display, for example, a characteristic diagram of engine performance over the RPM and the compression ratio. 2D Axis Systems Use 2D axis systems to display channels as two-dimensional curves or as two-dimensional bar diagrams. You usually enter an x-channel and a y-channel for a curve. The x-channel is often a time channel. You also can use any other channel as the x-channel, for example, the frequency of a spectral analysis. DIAdem assigns each x-value the corresponding y-value. If the two channels are not the same length, the curve is as long as the shorter channel. If you specify only one y-channel, DIAdem REPORT displays a numeric channel using its index and displays a waveform channel using its x-part. You can combine various display types in one axis system. To edit the display, double-click the axis system. Click the Type column to open the dialog box with the curve parameters. Select a display mode and set the parameters on the respective tabs. Use a bar diagram to display a statistical evaluation as a histogram. Numbers above the bars show the frequencies of the individual results. A horizontal line in the axis system represents the arithmetic mean. Use a curve display and error deviation to illustrate the reliability of the calculated results. DIAdem displays error bars on one side and on both sides of the curve, for the x-values and for the y-values. With automatic scaling, DIAdem REPORT displays the entire channel as a curve. Use manual scaling to zoom a section. Enter the first and last values for the x-axis and the y-axis in the dialog box for the axis system. DIAdem REPORT has various types of scaling, such as linear and logarithmic. The x-axis scaling and the y-axis scaling are independent of each other and can differ, as is the case with semi-logarithmic scaling. One axis system can include several curves. DIAdem automatically uses the entire value range for scaling. You can define curves with the same x-channel or with different x-channels. Use subaxes if the axis system contains y-channels that have different value ranges and different units. To display channels with different scales in one axis system, open the 2D Axis Systems function bar and click, for example, 2D Axis System with Two National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 4-15 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

59 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation Y-Axes (Left, Right). Select in the Data Portal all the temperature channels, for example, and drag and drop the selected channels onto the left y-axis. Then select the CO emission channels and drag and drop the channels onto the right y-axis. The following figure shows a separate subaxis for each test parameter in an engine test, because the CO emission, fuel consumption, and exhaust temperature each have different units. Each subaxis has a separate scale. If you resize subaxes, DIAdem REPORT adjusts the display of the associated curves. If you drag and drop a channel to a subaxis, DIAdem displays the associated curve on this subaxis. Figure 4-2. Engine Test Evaluation with Subaxes You can use curve transformation to edit the channels you select for display during plotting, without DIAdem changing the original data. To do this, create a script with the functions you want to use, and register the script as a user command in DIAdem. To smooth a curve with a curve transformation, for example, double-click a 2D axis system. In the Curve and Axis Definition dialog box, click the Curve Transformation button to display the column with this name in the curve list. Click the button shown here, which is at the end of the curve definition, and enter the user command CurveSmooth. When DIAdem refreshes the report, DIAdem smooths the curve with the specified user function. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 4-16 ni.com

60 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation Polar Axis Systems Use polar axis systems to display curves in circle diagrams. Select one or two channels in the Data Portal for a polar axis system. For a channel pair, the x-channel contains the angle and the y-channel contains the lengths. The following figure shows different levels of sensitivity for two microphones. The polar axis system shows how the sensitivity of the microphones, which are positioned at the axis origin, depends on the direction of the microphones. You can define polar axis systems as semicircles, quarter circles, or with any angle from Microphone Sensitivity [db(a)] Microphone Microphone Figure 4-3. Different Reception Ranges for Two Microphones 3D Axis Systems Use 3D axis systems to display, for example, a characteristic diagram of engine performance over the RPM and the compression ratio. A further example is the waterfall display of the results of an order analysis. Refer to the description of the Function Libraries in DIAdem ANALYSIS for diagrams of these functions. To edit the display, double-click the axis system. Click the Type column to select a display mode, such as surface, isolines, bars, spikes, 2D matrix, vector, or symbol display. To edit the display, click the button shown here and specify the curve parameters on several tabs. The following figure shows a combination of several displays of a spiral in a 3D axis system. To display the spirals as 3D curves, select three channels in the 3D axis system dialog box. The arrows on the spiral are vectors that National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 4-17 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

61 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation display the force for each point on the spiral. The xy-plane and the xz-plane show the spiral projections. You can specify the scaling, the labels, and the grid display for each display plane. Figure 4-4. Vector Display of a Spiral with Projections onto the Planes You can rotate and move a 3D axis system on the worksheet. You also can move the individual display layers in the axis system. To change the view of a 3D axis system, click the 3D axis system and rotate the axis system. To move a 3D axis system, click outside the axis system, but inside the selection frame. If the mouse cursor does not have two linked circles with arrows, you can move the axis system. To move a plane outwards, click the edge of the plane. As soon as the layer displays a blue selection frame, move the layer outwards. DIAdem organizes the data in a matrix structure for waterfall display, bar display, and 2D matrix display. In the dialog box for the 3D axis system, you select an x-channel, a y-channel, and as many z-channels as the y-channel contains values. DIAdem automatically selects the required number of consecutive z-channels for the matrix structure. For a 3D curve, DIAdem organizes the data in triples, for which you select three channels. Surface, spike, symbol, and characteristic diagram display can show data in triples and in matrices. You can use the 3D analysis functions in DIAdem ANALYSIS to convert channels into a matrix or a triple value. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 4-18 ni.com

62 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation Inserting Tables Tables list channel contents. You also can display text channels and variable contents in a 2D table. You can align a table horizontally or vertically. 2D Tables Use 2D tables to list numeric channels, waveform channels, time channels, and text channels in columns. Drag and drop channels from the Data Portal into the table. Each column contains one channel. Double-click the table to open the table definition where you change the order of the columns, specify the display parameters, and enter the headings. For long channels, you can specify the first value, the last value, and the step width of the values to be displayed. To change the column widths or the height of the headings, move the separators. To change the text attributes, select the column entries or headings and select the font, for example, in the format bar. To record complete long channels, select Automatic expand as the table length on the Scaling tab in the dialog box for the table settings. This defines a table that lists the channel contents on several sheets. Use the Next Table Contents button, shown here, on the DIAdem REPORT toolbar to scroll the pages. You also can display scalar variables and vector variables in a 2D table. Select Variable as the data type on the Table Columns tab and enter the variable name. If you enter the CurrDate scalar variable in the dialog box, the current date appears in the top line of the table. If you enter the CD vector variable, DIAdem displays the units of all the channels in the Data Portal, in the table column. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 4-19 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

63 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation 3D Tables Use 3D tables for the numeric display of the matrix structure of 3D data. Enter an x-data channel, a y-data channel, and the first z-data channel of the matrix structure, in the dialog box for 3D tables. The following figure shows how a 3D table assigns each xy-value pair the associated z-value: Figure D Tables Assign Each XY-Value Pair the Relevant Z-Value The 3D table can display the entire data matrix or a section. You specify the display parameters such as font and display format for the x-values, the y- values, and the z-values. To display 3D data in triple structure, list the three channels in a 2D table. Each line has a triple. Adding Text and Comments DIAdem REPORT provides standard text, the text object, and comments to create texts. Use standard text to create text in a uniform format, such as headings, and use the text object to generate multiline text with different formats. Use comments to position labels at prominent positions in the worksheet. All texts can include formula expressions and DIAdem variables, which DIAdem updates along with the rest of the report. For example, to display the current time, insert the CurrTime variable into a DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 4-20 ni.com

64 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation characters indicate to DIAdem which parts of the text are variables. You can include user variables as well as the program variables and auxiliary variables. Refer to the Using Variables section of Chapter 5, Automating Sequences, for more information about variables. Texts Use standard text to insert text in uniform format, such as headings or subtitles. To create standard text, select Decorations»Text. Click the worksheet with the text cursor and enter, for example, the Ribs Left heading shown in the following figure. If the text cursor is activated and you press <Enter>, DIAdem generates another line, where you enter the subtitle Dummy front left, Hybrid III 50%. To end the text entry, click anywhere in the worksheet. Double-click a standard text to modify the text. You can modify the text and the font attributes for the whole text. You can rotate standard text. Click one of the squares at the corners of the selected text and rotate the text to the right or to the left with the curved arrow. Figure 4-6. Crash Test Report with a Heading and a Text Field National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 4-21 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

65 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation Text Objects Use text objects to create a single text with different formats. To create a text object, open the Decorations function bar and click Text Object. DIAdem inserts a white field into the worksheet. Double-click the text object and enter a text. You also can import prepared text files in ASCII format, RTF format, or HTML format. The text object editor offers functions for formatting single words and sections. The formatting functions are on the toolbar and in the shortcut menu. Structure your text using list points, enumeration, tabulators, and paragraphs. You can format text objects only in the text editor, whereas you also can use the format bar in DIAdem REPORT to change the standard text. You also define the font size differently for text objects than for standard text or for axis labels. You specify the text size in absolute terms for the text object but in relation to the worksheet for standard text. If you zoom standard text, you enlarge the text itself. However, if you enlarge a text object, you only change the layout, not the size of the text. Comments Use comments to highlight key points in your worksheet. To create a comment, open the Decorations function bar and click Comment. Drag open a frame where you want to position the comment on the worksheet. DIAdem creates an arrow with a text frame. Double-click the text frame and enter a text. You enter the font size as an absolute value, the same as for the text object. Use the format bar in DIAdem REPORT to format a comment. If you anchor an arrowhead at a curve point, the arrowhead remains linked to the curve point when you move the comment. To reposition the arrow, click the arrow and move the square to the arrowhead. If you select and delete the arrow, a comment frame appears. Unlike a standard text, a comment frame remains the same size regardless of the amount of text you enter. Inserting Graphics and Lines Use graphics to include a diagram of a test stand or to insert a company logo into your worksheet. You can use the Graphics function bar to load graphics in common formats. You can position graphics behind axis systems and tables, because these objects have transparent backgrounds. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 4-22 ni.com

66 Chapter 4 Graphical Data Analysis and Report Generation When you insert graphics, DIAdem generates a link to the graphics file. DIAdem saves the link with the path definition in the layout. If you want to use a layout on another computer, integrate the graphic into the layout file. To do this, double-click the graphic and select the checkbox Embed graphic in layout when saving. Use frames to highlight a text field or a heading in the worksheet. To create a frame, open the Decorations function bar and click Rectangle. Drag open a frame where you want to position the frame in the worksheet. Each worksheet has an outer frame. To hide the outer frame, select Settings»Layout Setup»Layout Parameters and clear the Display frame checkbox. To create a circle in the worksheet, open the Decorations function bar and click Circle and Ellipse. Drag open the circle at any position on the worksheet. If you want to create an ellipse, clear the Force circle checkbox in the dialog box for the circle settings. Then drag the squares on the sides of the frame to change the width and the height. Use lines and arrows to partition the worksheet with lines or to indicate points in the worksheet with arrows. To create an arrow, open the Decorations function bar and click Line and Arrow. Drag open a frame where you want the arrow to start in the worksheet. You can reposition the start point and the arrowhead. To create a double arrow, select another arrow for the start point in the dialog box with the arrow settings. To change an arrow into a line, select No arrow as the end point in the dialog box with the arrow settings. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 4-23 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

67 Automating Sequences 5 Working with Scripts Use DIAdem SCRIPT to combine steps that constitute recurring processes, such as standard calculations and serial evaluations, in a script. A script can use functions from all the DIAdem panels. You can start a script when DIAdem launches, or you can use a button in a dialog box, or the script function bar. Control structures and dialog boxes help to design scripts for various data sets, evaluation methods, and report displays. The easiest way to generate a script is in the recording mode. DIAdem records the commands and the variable assignments for each interactive step. You can edit, test, and extend the recorded script. To record a script, click the Enable Recording Mode button shown here, on the DIAdem SCRIPT toolbar. In the recording mode, you generate script by interactively loading data or layouts, or executing calculations. DIAdem SCRIPT records these actions as commands in the script editor. To end the recording, select Disable Recording Mode. DIAdem displays the recorded script on a new tab in the script editor. Save the script for reuse. To facilitate script editing, use functions such as line numeration, jump statements, bookmarks, restoring, and find and replace. The syntax colors distinguish between comments, commands, and variables. If you select commands or variables in the script editor, and idle the mouse cursor over the selection, the tooltip displays the parameters of the command or the value range of the variables. If you position the cursor at a command or a variable and press <F1>, you open the help page for the command or variable. To start the script that is visible in the script editor, click Run Script on the toolbar in DIAdem SCRIPT. To execute a script that you have saved, without loading the script in the script editor, click Run Script From File. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 5-1 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

68 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences You can assign frequently-used scripts to a button on the script function bar in DIAdem SCRIPT. The bottom function bar is available in all the DIAdem panels, so you can call these scripts in all panels. Note You can enter scripts in the DIAdem shortcut properties to start sequences automatically when DIAdem launches. Refer to the Program Launch with Start Parameters section of Appendix A, Configuring DIAdem. Use the script debugger to detect script errors. When the debugger detects an error, the debugger displays a green marker in front of the incorrect script line and aborts the error search. The error appears in the information area. To monitor variables in the information area, drag and drop the variable from your script into the watch window of the information area. While you test the script, DIAdem displays the changing variable contents. Note The debugger is not installed with DIAdem due to licensing issues. Refer to the DIAdem help for information about installing the debugger. Use the file overview when you work on projects that have several scripts, variables definition files, and list files. Drag the left edge of the editor window to the right to open the file overview. The hierarchical display lists all the loaded files according to the file type. Use the file overview to switch files, to close files, and to create new folders. To change the syntax coloring for the various file types in the script editor, select Folder Properties from the shortcut menu. To save all the settings of the workspace, select File»Save Workspace As. DIAdem generates a WSP file, which DIAdem links to the current desktop file. The Program Launch with Start Parameters section of Appendix A, Configuring DIAdem, explains how you start DIAdem with a desktop file and a prepared workspace and load all the files and settings you need for a project. You can encrypt scripts and User dialog boxes to use scripts on other computers without the user being able to modify the script or the user dialog box. To encrypt scripts and user dialog boxes, select Script» Encrypt VBS Script/SUD File. DIAdem saves the compiled script with the filename extension vbc and the compiled user dialog box with the filename extension suc. Refer to the Creating User Dialog Boxes section for more information about user dialog boxes. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 5-2 ni.com

69 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Creating Scripts Executing Commands A script is a sequence of commands, variable assignments, and formula calculations. You use loops and branches to control the script. You use comments, empty lines, and indentation to give the script a clear structure. You can use the commands from all the DIAdem functions in scripts. The recording mode in the DIAdem SCRIPT script editor records the command for each function that you call in the interface. DIAdem also includes commands that you only can use in scripts, such as the SQL commands for communicating with databases. You execute DIAdem commands in the script with Call. Enter the parameters, such as the channels to be used and the selection terms for the calculation procedure, in parentheses: Call ChnPeakFind("[1]/Time","[1]/Speed",_ "Results/PeakX","Results/PeakY",_ 5,"Max.Peaks","Amplitude") The peak search command searches for the five highest amplitude peaks in the curves defined by the channels Time and Speed and stores the results in the channels PeakX and PeakY. If you do not specify a channel group for the result channels, DIAdem creates the two new channels in the default group of the Data Portal. Note Use _ to create a linefeed in the parameter list of a command, for example, if the script editor cannot display all the parameters of a command in one line. Use &_ if the linefeed occurs within a continuous text. Because channel names can occur multiple times in the Data Portal, we recommend that you specify the group index with the channel name. If the channel group is not always at the same position in the data set, add the name of the group to the channel name, for example, Drive/Time. A unique channel reference that consists of the group name and the channel name ensures that recurring channel names in your script do not cause incorrect results. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 5-3 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

70 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Using Variables Use DIAdem variables to transfer parameters to commands or to accept the results of mathematical calculations. DIAdem distinguishes between program variables, auxiliary variables, and user variables. Refer to the DIAdem help for a list of all the program and auxiliary variables. You can use VBS variables as well as the DIAdem variables. Program Variables Use program variables to set parameters for DIAdem commands in a script. If you use standard functions interactively, DIAdem saves your settings in program variables and then calls the command. For the peak search example described above, first assign values to the program variables PeakNo, PeakType, and PeakSort, and then call the command: PeakNo = 5 PeakType = "Max.Peaks" PeakSort = "Amplitude" Call ChnPeakFind("[1]/Time","[1]/Speed",_ "Results/PeakX","Results/PeakY") VBS Variables Unlike DIAdem, VBScript does not provide predefined variables or data types. VBS variables are always a variant data type, which uses different data types depending on what you use it for. A VBS variable reacts like a number when you use the variable in a calculation and it reacts like a string when you assign text to the variable. Declare VBS variables with the Dim statement. The following example contains the declaration for a numeric variable and a text variable. At the beginning of a script you can use the Option Explicit command to force the declaration of VBS variables. Option Explicit Dim MyVariable, MyString MyVariable = 10 MyString = "DIAdem" If you create a script with the setting File reference»path variable in the recording mode, DIAdem declares the path variable MyFolders. MyFolders is a vector variable to which DIAdem assigns, in a procedure, all the paths to the folders from which you load data and documents in the DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 5-4 ni.com

71 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences recording mode. In the following example, DIAdem loads data files from the first two folders and loads a report layout from the third folder: Option Explicit Dim MyFolders() Call InitMyFolders Sub InitMyFolders ReDim MyFolders(2) MyFolders(0)="C:\Program Files\National"&_ "Instruments\DIAdem\Examples\Data\" MyFolders(1)="C:\Documents and Settings\All &_ "Users\Documents\National Instruments"&_ \DIAdem\Data\" MyFolders(2)="C:\Documents and Settings\All"&_ Users\Documents\National Instruments\"&_ DIAdem\Documents\" End Sub... Call DataFileLoad(MyFolders(0)&"Example.tdm","tdm","") Call DataFileLoad(MyFolders(1)&"Data.tdm","tdm","") Call PicLoad(MyFolders(2)&"Report.tdr")... DIAdem uses the paths assigned to the path variable MyFolders only in the recorded script, without changing the default paths of the DIAdem settings. To use the script on a different computer you just change the initialization of the path variable in the procedure InitMyFolders. Auxiliary Variables Use auxiliary variables if you need a predefined variable that is not bound to a DIAdem command. You can use auxiliary variables as scalar or vector values with different data types, as shown in the following table. Table 5-1. Data Types for Auxiliary Variables Data Type Scalar Vector Boolean B1... B10 Integer L1... L30 LV1... LV3 Numeric R1... R30 RV1... RV3 National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 5-5 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

72 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Assign values to auxiliary variables before you use the auxiliary variables in your script. Dynamic enumeration variables are text variables that provide various keywords for selection, such as the days of the week. You define the selection list for the dynamic enumeration variable G1 in the G1Var.asc text file. Load the G1Var.asc file into the script editor and enter the weekday: Monday Tuesday... Sunday Save the selection list for the dynamic enumeration list variable G1. To view the dynamic enumeration list variable, select Edit»Auxiliary Variables to call the dialog box for the auxiliary variables in DIAdem SCRIPT. The dialog box provides an overview of all the declared auxiliary variables and the option to preassign several auxiliary variables simultaneously. To preassign the dynamic enumeration list variable G1, click Enumeration in the Single values field and select a weekday for the dynamic enumeration list variable G1. User Variables Table 5-1. Data Types for Auxiliary Variables (Continued) Data Type Scalar Vector Text T1... T10 TV Dynamic enumeration list G1... G10 GV Use user variables if your task requires project-specific variables that have unique names and special dimensions or special data types. You define user variables in a variable definition file, which is a text file with the filename extension vas. To access the months in the Month_ user variable, create the variable definition file MyMonths.vas in the script editor and enter the following statement into a line of the file: Month_: A ('January','February','March','April','May', 'June','July','August','September','October', 'November','December') <'May'> The underscore at the end of the name in Month_ indicates that it is a user variable. The A after the colon specifies the user variable Month_ as an enumeration variable. The variable is preset with May. Unlike the program and auxiliary variables, user variables are not automatically included with DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 5-6 ni.com

73 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Calculating Formulas Controlling the Script Sequence the standard DIAdem variables. You must activate the variable definition file MyMonths.vas with the UserVarCompile command at the beginning of the script, before you can use the user variables. The ScriptReadPath variable contains the path to the script user folder. Call UserVarCompile(ScriptReadPath & "MyMonths.vas") You also can use the formulas that you enter in the Calculator to calculate channels and single values, in scripts. DIAdem records your formulas with the complete syntax in the recording mode. For example, if you convert the Celsius channel into degrees Fahrenheit and store the result in the new Fahrenheit channel, DIAdem records the following command line in the script editor: Call ChnCalculate(_ "Ch(""[1]/Fahrenheit"")=1.8*Ch(""[1]/Celsius"")+32") DIAdem calls the Calculator function ChnCalculate with Call and calculates the formula that is specified as a parameter. Refer to the Calculating Formulas in the Calculator section of Chapter 3, Analyzing Data with Mathematical Functions, for a description of formula syntax. When you record a script, DIAdem works through the script line by line. For the script to run dynamically, you can insert loops and branches. Use loops to repeat statements. For example, you can use a For loop to set the 22 variables for calculating descriptive statistics to No. Then set the variables that the script is to calculate, to Yes. Dim i For i = 1 to 22 StatSel(i) = "No" Next StatSel(4) = "Yes" 'Minimum StatSel(5) = "Yes" 'Maximum Call StatBlockCalc("Channel", "1-","[1]/Speed") National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 5-7 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

74 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Script Readability and Reusability Use branches to execute various functions in association with conditions. If L1 is less than or equal to zero, the following If...Then...Else statement smooths the Speed channel with a smoothing width that depends on the channel length: If L1 <= 0 Then Call MsgBoxDisp("No Calculation") Else SmoothWidth = trunc(chnlength("[1]/speed")/10) Call ChnSmooth("[1]/Speed","Results/Smooth_Speed",_ SmoothWidth) End If Use control commands to stop or to end your script. For example, the KeyWait command stops the script until the user presses a key, and the Pause command stops the script for a specific length of time. The AutoQuit command terminates the script. Use the interaction mode to stop your script in order to work interactively with DIAdem. During interaction, you can, for example, use DIAdem VIEW to specify a curve section for evaluation in a script. Use the InterActionOn command to enable the interaction mode in scripts. To end the interaction mode, click the End Interaction button shown here, which is on the toolbar in all panels. Scripts are easier to read and to reuse if you adhere to a few basic rules when you write your scripts: Write only one statement in each line of the script. Use comments to describe the structure of the script and the commands you use. Start comments with a single quotation mark and include them at any point in your script. Insert an empty line to separate sections for single functions. Indent the statements for branches and loops, so the beginning and the end of a structure are in line and easier to identify. This is useful for nested structures. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 5-8 ni.com

75 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Creating User Interfaces Calling Program Dialog Boxes You can link your scripts to dialog boxes to select calculation methods, to request entries, or to load files. To set parameters for a standard mathematical function before the calculation, call the appropriate DIAdem program dialog box in the script. Use the DIAdem SCRIPT dialog editor to create user dialog boxes for making entries and specific project requests. Program dialog boxes are standard DIAdem dialog boxes that you use in your script, for example, to set parameters for standard mathematical functions or to execute file operations. Use the DlgOpen command to open the dialog box for standard mathematical functions. Click Help in the dialog box and refer to the DIAdem help page under Script Call for the name of the program dialog box. To select the characteristic values of the descriptive statistics, use the following script line: Call DlgOpen("DlgStatBlockCalc") The script calls the dialog box, and you select the characteristic values you want, and click Execute. DIAdem calculates the characteristic values, transfers the results to the associated program variables, and continues to execute the script. To load files, add the following lines to the script: Call FileNameGet("NAVIGATOR", "FileRead") If DlgState = "IDOk" Then Call DataFileImport(FileDlgFile) Else Call MsgBoxDisp("No file selected") End If The FileNameGet command opens the dialog box for loading data files in DIAdem NAVIGATOR. You select the data file you want in the dialog box, and DIAdem writes the file name into the FileDlgFile variable. If you click OK to close the dialog box, the script loads the file specified in FileDlgFile into the Data Portal. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 5-9 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

76 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Creating User Dialog Boxes You create user dialog boxes to enter values, to request settings, or to start functions. Use the DIAdem SCRIPT dialog editor to create dialog boxes, which you save in a dialog box file with the filename extension sud. You call user dialog boxes in the script with the SudDlgShow command. Include the dialog box name and the dialog box file. The user dialog box call shown in the following figure is: Call SudDlgShow("DlgEvalMain", ProgramDrv & _ "Examples\Documents\Crash_MMEEvaluation.sud") Figure 5-1. User Interface for a Crash Evaluation You can use events to connect the elements in a user dialog box with logical operations. The above figure shows the main dialog box for a crash evaluation, in which DIAdem enables the buttons one at a time after the appropriate steps. In the first step you load the test data and specify whether you want to examine a frontal impact or a side impact. In the second step you evaluate the selected data set. In the third step you select the display mode for the results. The dialog box file for this crash evaluation contains several dialog boxes. If you click the View Values button, the script opens the dialog box DlgResults to display the calculated injury criteria for the evaluated test. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 5-10 ni.com

77 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Defining User Dialog Boxes To generate user dialog boxes, call the dialog editor on the DIAdem SCRIPT toolbar or use the templates on the Dialog Box Templates function bar. If you need a user dialog box for channel selection, click the Dialog Box Template for Channel Selection. Enter a name for your dialog box definition, for example, MyDialog.sud. DIAdem loads the template into the dialog editor. The dialog box template for selecting channels contains two selection fields, a Cancel button, and an OK button. Use the dialog editor to add other controls such as checkboxes, radio buttons, selection lists, spin boxes, tables, or ActiveX objects. Use frames, text, and graphics to design your dialog box. You can modify the size and position of the controls and align them in relation to each other. If you want to include many input options in one dialog box, you can use the TabPageCtrl control to create a multipage dialog box. You group entry options onto several tabs. The dialog box for the curve and axis definition of a 2D axis system in DIAdem REPORT has such tabs. Each control has properties that you can view and modify in the properties window of the dialog editor. The properties include color, font, design, tooltip, and tabulator order. The tabulator order specifies the order in which controls are focused when you use the <Tab> key to navigate the dialog box. Variables connect the controls of a user dialog box with a script. In the Dialog Box Template for Channel Selection, the two selection fields are linked to the auxiliary variables T1 and T2. If you have preset the two auxiliary variables in your script with channels, the user dialog box displays the channels in the selection fields. If you select other channels in the user dialog box, T1 and T2 receive the new channels and return the text to the script. You must register DIAdem variables that you use in the user dialog box. Select Edit»Variables in the dialog editor. Click New Entry to declare variables. You must register VBS variables in the script with the GlobalDim statement: Option Explicit GlobalDim (_ "sdlgmmebutton, sdlgmmecreate, sdlgmmeevaluate") National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 5-11 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

78 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Controlling User Dialog Boxes You can control user dialog boxes in relation to events. For example, you cannot enable the OK button until the user enters values. To link a control to an event, select the event in the properties window and fill the associated procedure with statements. You select events on the Events tab in the properties window. When you click in the entry field of an event, the dialog editor opens the script editor, where you define the event. Click the Script View button shown here, to return to the dialog box view. The EventClick event is linked to a button click. The Enable method activates a control. To enable the CalculateButton by clicking the LoadButton, use the following VBS script: Sub LoadButton_EventClick() Dim This : Set This = LoadButton CalculateButton.Enable=1 End Sub Saving and Testing User Dialog Boxes To check the appearance of your dialog box, select View»Preview. To test the dialog box functions, select View»Test in DIAdem. This function checks the variable definitions and the event definitions of each control. You can save parts of the user dialog box in the catalog window in the dialog editor. Select View»Catalog to open the catalog. Select the dialog box controls that you want to save and select Copy from the shortcut menu. Then click the catalog window and select Paste from the shortcut menu to add the selected controls from the clipboard to the catalog. You save the properties and events together with the control. You can save catalogs in a CAT file, create new catalogs, and load catalogs. After you design and test your dialog box, you save your user dialog box in a dialog box file with the filename extension sud. In a dialog box file, you can save several dialog boxes, so that all the dialog boxes in a project are in the same SUD file. To add a dialog box, select Dialog Box»New. To copy and to delete dialog boxes, select Dialog Box»Dialog Box Overview. While you work, you can move and cascade the dialog boxes. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 5-12 ni.com

79 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Special Script Functions Defining User Commands DIAdem SCRIPT gives you special functions for the following: Defining your own functions as user commands in scripts Executing serial evaluations in scripts Using DIAdem interfaces to communicate with other applications in scripts Accessing objects in DIAdem NAVIGATOR, DIAdem VIEW, and DIAdem REPORT and Calling LabVIEW VIs in DIAdem. To extend the range of DIAdem commands, you can define user commands in a script. You can use user commands in Calculator formulas, in DIAdem REPORT, and in DIAdem SCRIPT. For example, if you need a special format for data display in DIAdem REPORT, write a user command with the appropriate statements. The following figure shows in the right column a trend display with plus and minus signs for the values in the middle column. Instead of a format instruction, the definition of the right column has the following user DIAdem recognizes user commands and variables by the leading and trailing characters. The CFV (short for CurrentFormatValue) variable stands for the current channel value. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 5-13 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

80 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Figure 5-2. Table with Trend Display from a User Command You define user commands as procedures or functions. Procedures only can accept arguments, whereas the function also can return a value. The TabTrend user command shows a maximum of three plus signs or minus signs as text: Function TabTrend(ByVal Value) If Value <= -100 then TabTrend = "---" ElseIf (Value > -100) and (Value <= -50) then... ElseIf (Value >= 100) then TabTrend = "+++" End If End Function For DIAdem to add your user commands to the collection of commands, you must select Settings»Options»Extensions»User Commands and register script files that contain user commands. The TabTrend user command is in the UserCmdExample.vbs script, which is registered by default. DIAdem saves the link to the script file in the desktop file. Your user commands are then permanent, until you delete the link or load another desktop file. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 5-14 ni.com

81 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Evaluating a Series of Files You can use DIAdem SCRIPT to automatically evaluate a series of similar files in a script, without having to load each file separately. For example, if you run a long-term test that saves a result file every day, you can evaluate all the files that are recorded in one week, at the beginning of the following week. To do this, you create a text file that lists the names of the data files that are to be evaluated. This list file must have the same name as the associated script and the filename extension lst. To create list files in the recording mode, select Settings»Options» SCRIPT and select the Enable serial evaluation during recording mode checkbox. If you now enable the recording mode, you can select and load several files in the dialog boxes for loading files. DIAdem SCRIPT automatically records the filenames in the list file that has the same name. After you disable the recording mode, DIAdem displays the recorded script and the associated list file in the script editor. The script uses the reference UseFileList instead of filenames in loading commands and in saving commands in order to access the list file: Call DataFileImport(UseFileList,"TDM","Load") To record file types not covered in the recording mode, use the DirLstWrite command and copy the files into the list file. The following script loads three data files consecutively, displays the data in the MyReport report, and prints the report. If you want to view the data on the screen, you can use the KeyWait command or the Pause command to interrupt the serial evaluation. Call DataDelAll(1) Call DataFileImport(UseFileList,"TDM","Load") Call PicLoad("MyReport") Call PicUpdate(0) Call PicPrint("WinPrint") The associated list file contains the names of the data files: Data1 'TDM data file Data2 'TDM data file Data3 'TDM data file If you access the list file with several commands in the script, you must list the files in the correct order. For example, if the script first calls the DataFileImport command for loading data files, you must specify a data National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 5-15 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

82 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences file at the first position in the list file. If the script then calls the PicLoad command for loading a report, you must specify a report file at the second position in the list file. Communicating with Other Applications You can use the DIAdem interfaces OLE, ODBC/SQL, and ASAM-ODS in scripts. DIAdem exchanges data and commands with other applications through the OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) interface. DIAdem can be the client as well as the server. DIAdem can use OLE to access other applications or to access another DIAdem instance. Refer to the DIAdem help under the search term OLE for more information. DIAdem reads and writes to ODBC (Open Data Base Connectivity) databases through the ODBC/SQL interface. Use SQL (Structured Query Language) commands to access the ODBC databases. The DIAdem SQL commands can access any database that the ODBC administrator in MS-Windows registers as a data source. Refer to the DIAdem help and enter the search term ODBC/SQL for more information. You can use the ASAM-ODS (ASAM Open Data Service) interface for read and write access to ASAM-compliant data files and databases. Open the ASAM data service as a user interface for navigating in ASAM data. DIAdem has special ODS commands for accessing ASAM data. Refer to the DIAdem help under the search term ASAM Data Service for more information. Accessing Objects in DIAdem NAVIGATOR DIAdem NAVIGATOR objects include data stores, DataFinders, queries, search results, and browser views. In your script, you can generate new objects and modify or delete the objects. You use the object hierarchy to access objects in DIAdem NAVIGATOR. The global object is the Navigator object, which opens data stores, searches for data, and displays the found data in the search results or in the file browser. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 5-16 ni.com

83 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Accessing Objects in DIAdem VIEW The following example executes an advanced search for channel groups called weather with the DIAdem NAVIGATOR interface. The example lists the channels of the found channel groups on the Search Results tab. Dim MyAdvancedQuerySet MyAdvancedQuery = Navigator.CreateQuery (_ eadvancedquery) Call MyAdvancedQuery.Conditions.Add(_ esearchchannelgroup,"name", "=", "weather") MyAdvancedQuery.ReturnType = esearchchannel Call Navigator.Display.CurrDataProvider.QueryForm._ SetCurrQuery(MyAdvancedQuery) Call Navigator.Display.CurrDataProvider.QueryForm. Search() Call WndShow("NAVIGATOR","Open") To use a quick search in a script, enter the search term in DIAdem NAVIGATOR in recording mode and press <Ctrl-A>. In the script editor you see the commands with the object names and the variable assignments for a search with or without the user interface of DIAdem NAVIGATOR. The main objects in DIAdem VIEW are worksheets, areas, axis systems, curves, channel tables, and columns. In your script, you can generate new objects and modify or delete the objects. You use the object hierarchy to access objects in DIAdem VIEW. The global object is the View object, which can be several worksheets long. The worksheet can be split into several areas, each of which contains an axis system, a channel table, a video or a graphic, or is empty. The following script deletes all the worksheets in DIAdem VIEW and generates the new worksheet MySheet. In the new worksheet, the script defines for the NewArea a 2D axis system, and creates a curve in the axis system with Time as the x-channel and Speed as the y-channel. Call View.Sheets.RemoveAll() Set MySheet = View.Sheets.Add("NewSheet") Set NewArea = MySheet.ActiveArea NewArea.DisplayObjType = "CurveChart2D" Call NewArea.DisplayObj.Curves.Add("[1]/Time",_ "[1]/Speed") National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 5-17 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

84 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Accessing Objects in DIAdem REPORT Accessing LabVIEW VIs DIAdem REPORT objects include axis systems, tables, and text. The objects in DIAdem REPORT are accessed differently to VBS. You must first open the main object, then the subobject, change the subobject, and then close the objects in the reverse order. The following script lines change the color of a curve in a 2D axis system: Call GRAPHObjOpen("2DAxis1") Call GRAPHObjOpen("2DObj3_Curve1") D2CURVECOLOR ="Red" Call GRAPHObjClose("2DObj3_Curve1") Call GRAPHObjClose("2DAxis1") To use the object hierarchy in your script, double-click in the axis system to open the axis system dialog box, and press <Ctrl-A>. Switch to DIAdem SCRIPT and insert the contents of the clipboard into your script by pressing <Ctrl-V>. The script editor displays the commands with the object names and the variable assignments from the dialog box opened before. You can use the object-oriented script interface LVRuntime to call LabVIEW VIs in DIAdem, to transfer values to the VIs, execute the VIs, and call information and values from the input and output terminals, to display the results in DIAdem REPORT. You use the object hierarchy of the LVRuntime to access a VI in LabVIEW. The global object is the LVRuntime object, which loads and executes VIs. The VIRuntime object accesses the properties of the input and output terminals of the VI and sets the values of these terminals. To call VIs you only need the objects LVRuntime and VIRuntime regardless of whether these objects transfer VI arguments. Objects have properties, which you use to specify the behavior of the objects, and methods, which you use to execute actions. The following script calls the LabVIEW-Runtime and loads the LabVIEW VI Test.vi. The script determines the names, the dimensions, the types and other information, from all the VI terminals. Dim sgruntimeversiont : sgruntimeversiont = "" Call LVRuntime.Init (sgruntimeversiont) Dim objvi Set objvi = LVRuntime.LoadVI(AutoActPath & "Test.vi") Dim omyterminalsset omyterminals = objvi.terminals 'Get Terminals Dim stroutput stroutput = "List of terminals:" DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation 5-18 ni.com

85 Chapter 5 Automating Sequences Dim omyterminal For Each omyterminal in omyterminals stroutput = stroutput & VbCrLF & "Name: " &_ omyterminal.name() Next Call MsgBoxDisp(strOutput) Set objvi = Nothing Call LVRuntime.DeInit To call a LabVIEW VI in DIAdem using the LVRuntime interface, you do not need to have LabVIEW installed on your computer. The DIAdem installation includes the LabVIEW-Runtime, which you use to execute VIs. To create a VI that provides DIAdem with a special function, you must install LabVIEW. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited 5-19 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

86 Configuring DIAdem A This chapter contains information about configuring DIAdem, installing from a network, launching the program with parameters, and the DIAdem folder structure. Settings You can configure various DIAdem properties via the Settings menu: Select Options»General to specify the general DIAdem properties, such as the unit, the time format, or the channel reference. Click Select Path to specify the Default folder for saving and loading data and documents. Refer to the Folder Structure section for more information. Click Channel Properties to specify whether DIAdem overwrites channel names and channel comments when calculation operations store the results in the original channels. Click Data Area to specify settings for channel management and storage management of the internal data of the Data Portal. Click Compatibility to modify settings, especially settings for working with scripts from previous DIAdem versions. Click Log File to specify whether DIAdem records only error messages or other messages as well. To open the log file, select Help» Display Log File. Click External Editor to specify the external editor that DIAdem uses to open text files such as the log file. The Settings menu has special settings such as the configuration of DataFinders in DIAdem NAVIGATOR, the cursor parameters in DIAdem VIEW, or the layout parameters in DIAdem REPORT. You also can specify which folders the DIAdem panels search for files in, and which start files the DIAdem panels load. Select Options»Extensions to register user commands, DataPlugins, and GPI extensions. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited A-1 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

87 Appendix A Configuring DIAdem DIAdem saves the settings in the desktop file desktop.ddd. When a user starts DIAdem, DIAdem checks whether the folder with the local user settings contains a desktop file. If the folder does not contain a desktop file, DIAdem copies the desktop.ddd from the DIAdem folder into the folder with the local user settings. To set up different DIAdem configurations for different users or different projects, save the settings in various desktop files, and load the files when you need them. To save the current settings in a new desktop file, select Settings»Options» Save As. To load a desktop file, select Settings»Options»Load. DIAdem loads the desktop file and automatically restarts. Program Launch with Start Parameters You can open DIAdem with parameters, to preconfigure DIAdem or to start DIAdem with a script. Enter the parameters in the properties for the DIAdem call. To change the shortcut to DIAdem on the Windows desktop, right-click the DIAdem icon. Select Properties from the shortcut menu. Add the parameters you want to the Target textbox. Use the /D parameter to start DIAdem with a specific project desktop file. The desktop file contains the DIAdem settings such as the file paths, the units, or the time format. To load the desktop file testrig.ddd when DIAdem starts, change the DIAdem call to the following: "diadem.exe" "/DC:\diadem\testrig" Use the /C parameter to perform a command as soon as DIAdem launches. To run the MyScript script when DIAdem launches, change the call to the following: "diadem.exe" "/CScriptStart('MyScript.vbs')" Use the /S parameter to specify the local system folder to the DIAdem client, in a network installation. The DIAdem client searches the system folder for interface files and system files required for the program launch. DIAdem also requires a USI installation and a NILM client on the local computer. To specify the system folder system when DIAdem launches, change the call to the following: "diadem.exe" "/SC:\diadem\system" DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation A-2 ni.com

88 Appendix A Configuring DIAdem You can use various parameters in one call, and you can use the same parameter several times. If you enter several commands, DIAdem executes the commands from left to right. For example, to start an application on a test computer, change the call to the following: "diadem.exe" "/DC:\diadem\engine1" "/CScriptStart('MainTest.vbs')" "/CScriptStart('TestReport.vbs')" First, DIAdem loads the desktop file engine1.ddd, with the paths and the settings that are set for the project. Then, DIAdem starts the script MainTest, which displays the user interface for the test. When you close the user interface, DIAdem stops the MainTest script and starts the second script, TestReport. Folder Structure DIAdem distinguishes between the example folder, the library folder, and the user folder. The example folder and the library folder are below the DIAdem program folder. Because the program folder is read-only, you only can load files, which also applies for the subfolders. For example, if you start an example from the help, DIAdem loads the associated files from the subfolder Examples. If you want to save the report layout from this example to use it yourself, DIAdem provides the user folder Documents. The user folders are located in the Windows Vista explorer under Computer»C:»Users»Public» Public Documents»National Instruments and in the Windows XP explorer under My Computer»C:»Documents and Settings»All Users» Shared Documents»National Instruments. DIAdem saves data files in the Data subfolder and saves all other file types in the Documents subfolder. When you load or save files, DIAdem notes the path and suggests the path the next time you load or save files. The next time you launch DIAdem, DIAdem suggests the default paths, not the paths you used the last time you saved or loaded files. To change the default paths, select Settings» Options»General and click Select Path. DIAdem differentiates three types of path behavior: Standard, extended, and path synchronization. If you select Standard path behavior, DIAdem distinguishes only between the user folder for data and the user folder for all other file types. If you select Extended, DIAdem distinguishes between the user folders for data, layouts, videos, scripts, and configuration files. If National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited A-3 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation

89 Appendix A Configuring DIAdem you select the Synchronize paths checkbox, you can distinguish between the user folders for saving and loading, and you also can group various file paths to the same user folder. DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation A-4 ni.com

90 DataPlugins B DataPlugins describe file formats that enable DIAdem to browse and read the associated data files via the USI (Universal Storage Interface) interface, similar to the following figure. A DataPlugin is based on a VBS script, which analyzes a data file, creates instances of the data model such as the Root, ChannelGroups, and Channels, and fills these instances with the information that has been read. Figure B-1. DIAdem Accesses Data via DataPlugins when Searching for and Loading Data Use DataPlugins to load, register, and browse additional file formats in DIAdem. Refer to the DIAdem help and select Programming Reference» Object-Oriented Script Interfaces»DataPlugin. The DataPlugin help pages provide an overview of the structure of DataPlugins and describe the objects, properties, and methods. Examples demonstrate how to program DataPlugins. To create a DataPlugin you need a detailed description of the file format. Select File»DataPlugin Wizard in DIAdem NAVIGATOR to open the DataPlugin Wizard and load the text-based data file to create a DataPlugin for this file format. In four steps, you specify the structure of the text file, the group properties, the channel properties, and the channel values that are to be read in. Using the text file, the preview displays each setting directly. National Instruments Ireland Resources Limited B-1 DIAdem: Data Mining, Analysis, and Report Generation