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AutoCal
Table of contents
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The 2-D Graph Control Chart Recorder is not supported in this release of the software.
Next topic
Editing data using the 2-D Graph Control
Previous topic
2-D Graph Control - Graph properties
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6. Check Time X-axis to monitor live data from the ECU - it converts the 2D graph to a chart
recorder.
7. Check Update Continuously if you are running Watch Data Manager and want to display live
data.
Next topic
2-D Graph Control - Chart Recorder properties
Previous topic
2-D Graph Control properties
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See Setting control properties for how to display the 2dgraph Control Properties dialog box.
See General properties for how to set those general properties that apply to 2-D Graph Controls - the
2dgraph Control Properties dialog box does not have Colors or Font pages.
In addition to the General page, the 2dgraph Control Properties dialog box has Graph and Chart
Recorder pages - these are described in the following topics.
Next topic
2-D Graph Control - Graph properties
Previous topic
Using the 2-D Graph Control to view and edit data
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Accessing data
Once you have loaded a Dataset into the Navigator, you can use it to access the data contained in the
Dataset.
The Navigator is designed to look, feel and behave like the familiar Microsoft ® Windows® Explorer.
As in Explorer, you can expand and contract items in the Navigator by clicking on the + and - icons to the
left of the labels. The picture above shows the Sample Dataset (see Using the Pi Metafile Compiler to
create a sample Dataset) after you have expanded it one level, and shows that the Sample Dataset has
three groups within it - other Datasets will have different structures. These groups are represented by folder
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icons, showing that they contain other items, which may be subgroups or parameters:
Notice that the icon representing parameters in the Navigator shows the parameter type. For example,
Parameter A1 in the picture above is a 1-dimensional table, Parameter A2 is a 2-dimensional table and
Parameter C1 is a scalar.
Another way to view the contents of groups and to get more information about parameters is to use the
ParamView Control - see Using the Parameter Viewer Control (ParamView).
Next topic
User-defined groups
Previous topic
Removing found Datasets from Search Results
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To add a fixed amount to the values of a selection of cells (this operation does not apply to enumerated
values):
1. Select the cells (see Selecting a group of cells in a table).
2. Choose Block Offset from the Edit > Control submenu or the menu displayed when you right-
click in the table to display the Block Offset dialog box.
3. Enter the value you want to add to each value in the selected cells.
4. Press OK to close the dialog box and carry out the operation.
Note: If any of the results of this operation would be less than the minimum or greater than the maximum
value set in the Metafile, they will be set to the minimum or maximum value, respectively.
Next topic
Multiplying the values of a selection of cells by a fixed amount
Previous topic
Setting the values of a selection of cells to the same value
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See Setting control properties for how to display the Analog Meter Control Properties dialog box and set
those properties on the General, Colors and Font pages that can be applied to Analog Meter Controls.
The Analog Meter Control Properties dialog box also has a Dial page:
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the meter pointer. You can choose any angle from 30 through 180 degrees.
Next topic
Bar Control properties
Previous topic
Using Virtual Instrument Controls to view data
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The following pop-up menus are displayed when you right-click on objects in the Navigator.
Calibration Manager
Open Displays the Open dialog box so that you can open Datasets and
Channelsets
Remove All Closes all open Datasets and removes them from the Navigator - you
will be warned if any of them are in use and given the opportunity to
save any changes
Find on Disk Displays the Search Criteria dialog box so that you can specify
search criteria and carry out a search for saved Datasets
Search Datasets Displays the Search Criteria dialog box so that you can specify
search criteria and carry out a search for Datasets already loaded
Search Results
Remove Results Clears all found Datasets from Search Results
Open Results Opens all the found Datasets in Search Results
Loaded Dataset
Dataset Information Displays the Dataset Information dialog box so that you can view or
add Dataset information
Remove Dataset Removes the Dataset from the Navigator
Save Dataset Saves the Dataset using its current name
Save As Saves the Dataset using a new name
Run Constraints on Dataset Check whether all the parameters in a Dataset satisfy any constraints
defined for them
Auto Constrain Chooses whether or not to maintain automatically any constraints
defined for the parameters in the Dataset
Start Patching/ Sets patching mode on or off for the Dataset
Stop Patching - Currently
Patching
Send Dataset to ECU Sends the calibration data in the Dataset to the ECU
Read Dataset from ECU Reads the calibration in the ECU into the Dataset
Regrade Dataset Regrades the Dataset
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Snapshot Displays the Snapshot Active dialog box so that you can enter a
comment, then saves a record of the Dataset file path and name, the
date and time it was saved, the comment, followed by the current
Dataset parameter values to a comma-separated values format file
Parameter in Dataset
Run Constraint Checks whether the parameter satisfies any constraints defined for it
Snapshot Displays the Snapshot Active dialog box so that you can enter a
comment, then saves a record of the Dataset file path and name, the
date and time it was saved, the comment, followed by the current
value of the parameter to a comma-separated values format file
Revert Change the value of the parameter back to its last saved value
Channelset
Start Watching All marked Starts watching all of the marked parameters in the Channelset
Stop Watching All marked Stops watching all of the marked parameters in the Channelset
Start Watching All Starts watching all of the parameters in the Channelset
Stop Watching All Stops watching all of the parameters in the Channelset
Mark All Marks all the parameters in the Channelset for watching
Unmark All Unmarks all the parameters in the Channelset for watching
Start Logging All Starts saving results from all watched parameters to the log file
Stop Logging All Stops saving results from all watched parameters to the log file
User Event Displays a dialog box so that you can enter text for the user event
then log the event at the current point in the log file
Remove Channelset Removes the Channelset from the Navigator
Save Channelset Saves the Channelset using its current name
Save As Saves the Channelset using a new name
Add User Defined Group Adds a user-defined group to the Channelset
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Next topic
Toolbars
Previous topic
Help
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AutoCal Workspaces
Workspaces allow you to save a set of panels together with a group of Datasets.
To save the currently open panels and Datasets with a new name:
1. Choose Save Workspace As from the File menu to display the Save As dialog box.
This is a standard Windows® dialog box.
2. Use the Save As dialog box to select a folder and enter a name for the Workspace - see the
context-sensitive Help for this dialog box if you need more information.
3. Click Save to save the file and close the dialog box.
To save a previously saved Workspace again into the same file:
Choose Save from the File menu. If the Workspace has not been saved previously, the Save As dialog
box will be displayed so that you can enter a name and location with which to save the Workspace.
To open a previously saved Workspace:
1. Choose Open Workspace... from the File menu to display the Open dialog box.
This is a standard Windows® dialog box.
Note: You can only have one Workspace open at a time, so if there are any unsaved changes in the
existing Workspace, you will be asked if you want to save them first.
2. Use the Open dialog box to select the folder and file containing the Workspace - see the
context-sensitive Help for this dialog box if you need more information.
3. Click Open to open the Workspace.
Next topic
Comparing Datasets
Previous topic
Working with a grid
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See Setting control properties for how to display the Bar Control Properties dialog box and set those
properties on the General, Colors and Font pages that can be applied to Bar Controls. The Bar Control
Properties dialog box has no other pages.
Next topic
Thermometer Control properties
Previous topic
Analog Meter Control properties
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See Setting control properties for how to display the Button Control Properties dialog box and set those
properties on the General, Colors and Font pages that can be applied to Button Controls.
The Button Control Properties dialog box also has a Button page:
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panels
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Next topic
Viewing the comments in found Datasets
Previous topic
Search Criteria dialog box - Timestamps page
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to
to
Next topic
Choosing what to display in a table with three dimensions
Previous topic
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You can create user-defined groups in the Channelset to collect together sets of related watch variables.
To create a Channelset user-defined group:
1. Right-click on the Channelset icon to pop up a menu.
2. Choose Add User Defined Group.
The new user-defined group will appear in the Channelset:
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Next topic
Linking watch variables to controls
Previous topic
Opening Channelsets
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AutoCal allows you to ‘watch’ variables in an ECU in real time. To do this you use a Channelset - this
defines the variables that you can watch and their location in the ECU. Channelsets are defined as text
Metafiles in a similar way to Datasets and then compiled using the Pi Metafile Compiler.
To display the value of a watched variable, you link it to a control on a panel in the same way as you link Dataset
parameters to controls.
Next topic
Opening Channelsets
Previous topic
Reading a Dataset from the ECU
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Note that in the picture above the axis label Parameter B3 axis 1 is shown in black text, so the axis is itself
a table and can be edited, but Parameter B3 axis 1 is shown in gray text, so the axis cannot be edited.
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Colors
See Setting control properties for how to display the Properties dialog box for a control.
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Next topic
Fonts
Previous topic
General properties
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The instructions in the rest of this section of the Help system assume that you have correctly connected the
ECU physically to the PC and that the communications software has been correctly configured.
Next topic
Sending a Dataset to the ECU
Previous topic
Compare control toolbar
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Contents Overview
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Controls Toolbar
Dragging a control from the Controls toolbox is roughly equivalent to choosing Insert Visual Object from
the Edit menu to display the Insert Control dialog box, selecting the control from the list in the dialog box,
and clicking OK. However, when you drag the control from the toolbar you can choose where to drop it on
the panel, but when you use the menu command the control is placed at a default position, and you will
probably need to move it.
Furthermore, you can use the tools on the Controls toolbar in another way, which allows you to choose the
size and shape of the control as well as its position. For this method, click the control on the toolbar - the
button will become depressed to show it is selected. Now drag out a rectangle on the panel to define the
size, shape and position of the control.
For more details of how to work with controls, including how to link them to data, see Creating and working
with AutoCal data controls. For details of how to work with individual controls, click on the buttons in the
tables in the following table.
Control View Data Edit Data Click for details
2D-Graph Yes Yes
Bar Yes No
Button No Yes
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Indicator Yes No
Static Text No No
Thermometer Yes No
Command Button No No
Compare No No
Next topic
Glossary
Previous topic
Alignment Toolbox
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AutoCal makes it very easy to copy parameter values within and between Datasets. You may want to do
this, for example, to transfer a set of parameter values from an old version of a Dataset to a new version.
To copy parameter values within a Dataset or from one Dataset to another:
1. Open the Dataset(s) so that both the source and target are visible (see Note 2 below for copying
parameters between Datasets in different AutoCal Data Managers) - see the tables below for
the allowed sources and targets.
2. Drag the source onto the target.
Note: If you are going to Copy by tag into a different Dataset, it doesn’t matter where you drop the
parameter in the target Dataset.
3. A menu will be displayed allowing you to choose (see the tables below for the commands
displayed for different combinations of source and target):
Copy - to copy the value of the first parameter in the source to the first parameter in the
target, the second parameter in the source to the second parameter in the target,
irrespective of the names of the parameters (see Matching conditions for copy operations
for the conditions that must be satisfied if a copy operation is to succeed).
Copy by tag - to copy the value(s) of the source parameters to the parameters in the target
Dataset with the same name (see Matching conditions for copy operations for the conditions
that must be satisfied if a copy operation is to succeed).
Add reference - to create a reference to the source parameter(s) in the target user-defined
group (or references to the equivalent source parameters if you are dragging a user-defined
group from one Dataset onto a user-defined group in another Dataset)
Assign Dataset - to relink the controls linked to the source Dataset to the equivalent
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parameters in the target Dataset (see Relinking controls to parameters in a different Dataset
for details)
Cancel Operation.
Note 1: You can also display the source parameter or group in a ParamView control and drag from there
onto or into the target Dataset in the Navigator. However, dragging a source parameter into a
target parameter or group displayed in a ParamView control does not copy the data to the target
- it just makes the ParamView control display the source parameter/group.
Note 2: The source and target Datasets do not need to be in the same AutoCal Data Manager. To drag
and drop between Datasets in different AutoCal Data Managers, first display the target AutoCal
Data Manager and make sure that the target Dataset is displayed. Then display the source
AutoCal Data Manager and drag the required item from the source over the target’s Data
Manager button. After a short pause, the target AutoCal Data Manager will be displayed. Then
drop the item onto the target Dataset.
Note 3: The value copied is the value in engineering units, irrespective of any scaling or the type of the
parameter.
Commands displayed when you drag a source in a Dataset and drop it onto a target in the same
Dataset
Note: Entries marked --- mean that you cannot drop that source onto that target.
Note: All menus also have a Cancel command so that you can abort the operation.
Commands displayed when you drag a source in a Dataset and drop it onto a target in a different
Dataset
Note: Entries marked --- mean that you cannot drop that source onto that target.
Note: All menus also have a Cancel command so that you can abort the operation.
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Next topic
Matching conditions for copy operations
Previous topic
User-defined groups
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The dialog box lists all the Datasets open in the Navigator that have a parameter with the same
identifier, type and size as the selected Channelset variable.
3. Click on the Dataset in the list to which you want to copy the value.
4. Press OK.
Next topic
Saving a Channelset
Previous topic
Switching Watching on and off
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Note: If any of the results of this operation would be less than the minimum or greater than the maximum
value set in the Metafile, they will be set to the minimum or maximum value, respectively.
Next topic
Using the Table Editor to view and edit data
Previous topic
Interpolating the values across a selection
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To view, edit and control data in AutoCal, you place controls on a panel.This section of the Help system
begins by showing you several ways to create controls and how to link the controls to data. It goes on to
show you how to select, move, resize, delete, copy, cut and paste controls, and how to set various control
properties.
Press {button ,AL(`control',1,`',`')} for details of individual controls.
Next topic
Placing controls on a panel
Previous topic
Taking snapshots of parameter values
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2. Choose Save from the File menu. If the panel has not been saved previously, the Save As
dialog box will be displayed so that you can enter a name and location with which to save the
panel.>
To open a previously saved panel:
1. If they are not already open and you want the controls relinked to their parameters, open the
Datasets linked to the panel.
2. Choose Panel... from the File menu to display the Open dialog box.
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Documenting a Dataset
To document a Dataset:
1. Right-click on the Dataset in the Navigator to pop up a menu.
2. Choose Dataset Information to display the Dataset Information dialog box:
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The read-only boxes at the top of the dialog box show the name of the Dataset file and the
Application Name, Description and Version number defined in the Metafile.
2. Enter or edit text in the Dataset Description box to document the Dataset.
3. To add a time-stamped comment, press New Comment to display the New Comment dialog
box:
4. Enter the comment and press OK. The new comment will be added to the list in the Comments
table:
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5. To edit a time-stamped comment, double-click in the Comment field to place a cursor and edit
the text in the normal way.
Note: If your comment is wider than the Comment column, the fact that some of the comment is not
visible is shown by the ellipsis mark ... (see the example above). You can see the rest of the
comment by placing a cursor in the Comment field and moving the cursor to the right. However, you
can also change the width of the columns in the Comments table by dragging the dividing lines in
the heading bar. If you drag the right-hand dividing line off the right-hand side of the table, a
horizontal scroll bar will appear at the bottom of the table so that you can scroll to see the full text in
the comment.
6. Press OK to close the dialog box.
As well as the time-stamped user comments, AutoCal also prompts you to enter a time-stamped comment
when you save the Dataset, patch parameter values in an ECU or send data to an ECU - see for example
Saving and removing Datasets.You can view the comment later using the Dataset information dialog box
as above, for example:
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Edit
Paste Paste the contents of the Windows® clipboard onto the panel
Next topic
View
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Previous topic
File
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See Setting control properties for how to display the Edit Control Properties dialog box and set those
properties on the General, Colors and Font pages that can be applied to Edit Controls.
Next topic
Viewing and editing the data
Previous topic
Using the Edit Control to view and edit data
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Note: Enumeration parameters are parameters that can only take one of a fixed set of values. These
values are enumerated in the Metafile by an 'enum' declaration.
Next topic
Using the Table Control to view and edit data
Previous topic
Viewing data using a Parameter Viewer Control
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You can use the 2-D Graph Control (unless it is in pie chart mode) to edit the data it displays.
For example, to edit data in a Plot:
1. Place the pointer over the data point you want to change:
You can edit the data using Area, Bar Graph and Stacking Bar charts using a similar technique - the data
points are not shown as circles in these charts, so you drag the edge of the area or bar.
Editing the data in this way is quick and easy, but can be less precise than entering the data directly in a
table. However, if you display the table in a Table Control or the Table Editor, you will be able to see the
exact value of the data as you adjust it in the 2-D Graph Control.
Next topic
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You can edit the value of an individual cell in a table (see Editing a single data value) or edit the values of a
group of cells together (see Selecting a group of cells in a table).
When you edit the values for a selection of cells you can:
set them all to the same value add a fixed amount to their current values multiply their
current values by a fixed amountinterpolate the values between one end of the selection and the
other copy a block of cells from one part of a table to anotherNext topic
Editing a single data value
Previous topic
Choosing what to display in a table with three dimensions
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sites
To edit the data linked to a slider control:Press the following keyboard keys:
Key Action
Down arrow decrease value by a small amount
or left arrow for a horizontal slider
or right arrow for a vertical slider
Up arrow increase value by a small amount
or right arrow for a horizontal slider
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If the Mouse Select property is set, you can also set the slider position using the mouse.
To adjust the setting of a slider control using the mouse:
Click to the right or left of the slider to move the slider in increments of half a graduation.
Or
Drag the slider to the appropriate position.
Next topic
Using Virtual Instrument Controls to view data
Previous topic
Slider Control properties
File
Panel... Displays the Open dialog box so that you can open a previously
saved panel
Close Closes the selected panel
Save Saves the selected panel to its existing file - displays the Save As
dialog box if not previously saved
Save As... Displays the Save As dialog box so that you can enter a location and
file name for saving the selected panel
Open Workspace... Displays the Open dialog box so that you can open a previously
saved Workspace
Save Workspace Saves the current Workspace to its existing file - displays the Save As
dialog box if not previously saved
Save Workspace As... Displays the Save As dialog box so that you can enter a location and
file name for saving the current Workspace
Design Mode Switches Design mode on or off - the command is checked and the
button depressed when Design Mode is on
Print Prints a screen shot of the selected panel
Most recently used files The File menu lists the names of recently used files - choose the
name from the menu to re-open it
Exit Close ToolBench
Next topic
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Edit
Previous topic
Menus
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Fonts
See Setting control properties for how to display the Properties dialog box for a control.
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Glossary
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Help
Help Contents... Display the Contents page for the Help system
About... Display the About dialog box showing information about the version
of ToolBench you are running
Next topic
Navigator pop-up menus
Previous topic
Window
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See Setting control properties for how to display the Indicator Control Properties dialog box and set
those properties on the General, Colors and Font pages that can be applied to Indicator Controls.
Note: The Indicator will show its ‘off’ state (Red and showing the ‘Off’ text - see below) if the value of the
linked parameter is in the lower half of its allowed range set in the Metafile; otherwise it will be in its
‘on’ state.
The Indicator Control Properties dialog box also has an Indicator page:
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To interpolate the values across a selection (this operation does not apply to enumerated values):
1. Set the contents of the cells at the ends of the selection to the required values (see Editing a
single data value).
2. Select the block of cells through which you want to interpolate the values (see Selecting a group
of cells in a table).
3. Choose Interpolate Selection from the Edit > Control submenu or the menu displayed when
you right-click in the table.
The values of the cells will be linearly interpolated between the values at the ends of the selection using the
axis settings. For example, the values in the selected row have been set by interpolation:
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Note: If any of the results of this operation would be less than the minimum or greater than the maximum
value set in the Metafile, they will be set to the minimum or maximum value, respectively - this can
happen if the value of one of the intermediate axis points is greater or less than the values of the
axis points at the ends of the selection.
Next topic
Copying the values of cells from one part of a table to another
Previous topic
Multiplying the values of a selection of cells by a fixed amount
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Layout
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Next topic
Item
Previous topic
View
Alignment toolbox
The Alignment Toolbox contains a collection of tools for aligning controls with each other:
The equivalent commands all appear on the Align Controls submenu in the Layout menu.
Next topic
Controls Toolbox
Previous topic
General Toolbar
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To link data to a control (if you did not link it to a parameter when you created it, or if you want to link it to a
different parameter):
1. Display the parameter in the Navigator (or a ParamView control - see Using the Parameter
Viewer Control (ParamView)).
2. Drag the parameter onto the control.
Note: An advantage of using a ParamView control here is that it shows a description of the parameter so
that you can check that you are linking the parameter to a suitable type of control.
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Note: The Navigator shows when a Dataset has unsaved changes with an asterisk between the Dataset
icon and the Dataset name - the parameters that have been changed are marked similarly:
Next topic
Relinking controls to parameters in a different Dataset
Previous topic
Placing controls on a panel
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AutoCal allows you to mark variables so that you can switch Watching on or off for all the marked variables
(or all the marked variables in a group) at the same time.
To mark (or unmark) an individual variable:
1. Right-click on the variable that you want to mark (unmark) to pop up a menu.
2. Choose Marked for Watching.
To mark (or unmark) all the variables in a group or the whole Channelset together:
1. Right-click on the group or the whole Channelset that you want to mark (unmark) to pop up a
menu.
2. Choose Mark All (or Unmark All).
When a variable is marked, the command is checked in the menu and the variable is marked by a tick in
the Data Manager:
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The two variables in the User defined group are marked; the other variables are unmarked.
Note: All marked variables are shown with a tick - blue if they are not currently being watched and red if
they are. However, a red tick does not necessarily mean that the variable is marked since all
currently watched variables are shown with a red tick whether marked or not. To check if a watched
variable is also marked, right-click on it and see if the Marked for Watching command is checked,
or look at the variable properties.
When you save a Channelset, the marked/unmarked status of each variable is also saved and will be
restored when you open it again.
Next topic
Setting the rate for periodic watching and marking variables
Previous topic
Periodic and state watching
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Menus
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Item
Window
Help
Navigator pop-up menus
Next topic
File
Previous topic
Menus and Toolbars - summary
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This section of the Help system contains information about each of the menus and toolbars in the program.
Next topic
Menus
Previous topic
Removing a Channelset
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Note The setting of Snap to Grid in the Layout menu or the menu displayed when you right-click in the
panel has no effect on moving or resizing controls.
To resize a control on a panel:
1. Click on the control to select it - the border of the control will be hatched and there will be drag
handles at the corners and middle of each side:
2. Move the pointer over one of the drag handles - the pointer will change to a two-headed arrow
showing the direction in which you can reshape the control.
3. Drag the box to resize/reshape the control.
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To multiply the values of a selection of cells by a fixed amount (this operation does not apply to
enumerated values):
1. Select the cells (see Selecting a group of cells in a table).
2. Choose Block Multiply from the Edit > Control submenu or the menu displayed when you
right-click in the table to display the Block Multiply dialog box.
3. Enter the value by which you want to multiply each value in the selected cells.
4. Press OK to close the dialog box and carry out the operation.
Note: If any of the results of this operation would be less than the minimum or greater than the maximum
value set in the Metafile, they will be set to the minimum or maximum value, respectively.
Next topic
Interpolating the values across a selection
Previous topic
Adding a fixed amount to the values of a selection of cells
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Opening Channelsets
To open a Channelset:
1. In the Navigator, right-click on Calibration Manager to display a pop-up menu.
2. Choose Open to display a standard Windows® Open dialog box.
3. In the Files of type drop-down list box, either select Metafiles (.met) if you want to open a
compiled Metafile, or select AutoCal Files (.dat; .ise) to open a Channelset (.ise file) saved
previously in AutoCal.
4. Use the Look in drop-down list and the file/folder list box to select the drive and folder
containing the required Channelset - see the context-sensitive Help for this dialog box if you
need more information.
The files of the type selected at Step 3 will be listed.
5. Select the required file and press Open, or just double-click on the file.
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Note: You can select more than one file by extending the selection using SHIFT-click and/or CTRL-click in
the normal way. In this way you can open Channelsets and Datasets at the same time.
The Channelset will be displayed in the appropriate version folder in the Navigator (the color of the icons
distinguishes Channelsets (red) from Datasets (yellow)):
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Opening a Dataset
To open a Dataset (such as the sample Dataset created in Using the Pi Metafile Compiler to create a
sample Dataset):
1. Launch Pi ToolBench.
2. Right-click on Calibration Manager in the Navigator to display a pop-up menu.
3. Choose Open to display the Open Dataset dialog box.
This is a standard Windows® dialog box.
4. In the Files of type drop-down list box, either select Metafiles (.met) if you want to open a
compiled Metafile (such as the Metafile saved in Using the Pi Metafile Compiler to create
sample data), or select AutoCal Files (.dat; .ise) to open a Dataset saved previously in
AutoCal.
Note: The .ise files are Channelsets, which you use to monitor variables in the ECU.
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5. Use the Look in drop-down list and the file/folder list box to select the drive and folder
containing the required Dataset - see the context-sensitive Help for this dialog box if you need
more information.
The files of the type selected at Step 4 will be listed.
6. Select the required file (for example Sample.met for the file containing the sample data).
Note: You can select more than one file by extending the selection using SHIFT-click and/or CTRL-click in
the normal way. In this way you can open Datasets and Channelsets at the same time.
7. Click Open.
A numbered green folder will appear under Calibration Manager:
The number next to the folder is the version number given in the Metafile.
To see the Dataset (Metafiles are converted into Datasets when they are loaded into AutoCal):
Click on the + icon next to the folder to open it:
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Overview
AutoCal provides a programmable software interface to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in an engine.
Using AutoCal, you can:
View and edit the control parameters in the ECU to optimize the control logic
View instrumentation variables, such as rpm or fluid temperatures and pressures, while the engine is
running.
The control parameters and variables can be of many different types (such as integer, floating point or
enumerated values) and structure (such as, single-valued scalars or one, two or three dimensional tables).
AutoCal provides a wide range of controls for viewing and editing all these types of values, including:
Virtual instruments such as analog meters, thermometers, bars and sliders.
2D graphs.
Buttons.
Text and Table controls.
The control parameters for an ECU are defined in a file called a Dataset, which can be created using Pi’s
Metafile Compiler. Datasets can be edited off-line or on-line:
To edit a Dataset off-line, you can either:
(a) Open a file containing a saved version of the Dataset, or
(b) Connect to the ECU, read the Dataset, and then disconnect.
You can then edit the Dataset in AutoCal and either save the edited version to download to the
Dataset at a later time, or connect to the ECU and download the Dataset to the ECU immediately.
To edit a calibration on-line, you set the Dataset to ‘patching’ mode - AutoCal first sends the current
state of the Dataset from the PC to the ECU; then, until you leave patching mode, any changes you
make to the Dataset parameters in AutoCal are sent immediately to the ECU while it is running.
The instrumentation variables are also defined in a file, which is called a Channelset and which can also be
created using Pi’s Metafile Compiler.
Typical applications for AutoCal include:
debugging new ECU control logic;
optimizing operation by fine-tuning individual control parameters for a device while it is running;
reprogramming an ECU to accommodate changing requirements.
Main sections of the Help system
The AutoCal interface
Working with Datasets
Creating and working with AutoCal data controls
AutoCal data controls
User setups
Comparing Datasets
Communicating with the ECU
Menus and Toolbars - summary
Glossary
See also
Using the Pi Metafile Compiler to create a sample Dataset
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See Setting control properties for how to display the ParamView Control Properties dialog box:
1. Check Display Path to show the complete path to the parameter in the control’s title bar instead
of just the parameter’s name.
2. Click on a radio button to choose whether values should be displayed in:
Engineering Units
ECU units in Decimal format
ECU units in Hex format.
Next topic
Viewing data using a Parameter Viewer Control
Previous topic
Using the Parameter Viewer Control (ParamView)
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You can watch one, two and three-dimensional table parameters as well as scalar parameters. However,
for efficiency, table parameters are not watched in quite the same way as scalar parameters:
For scalar variables, AutoCal polls the ECU periodically (at a rate that you can set) and updates the
value of the Channelset parameter in AutoCal - this is called periodic watching since the Channelset
parameter is updated periodically irrespective of whether it has actually changed.
For table variables, AutoCal waits until it receives a message from the Communications Service
saying that the table has changed in the ECU, and then updates the value of the Channelset
parameter in AutoCal - this is called state watching since the Channelset parameter is only updated
if the state of the table in the ECU changes.
Terminology: A table parameter that is being state watched is called an adaptive map.
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Next topic
Linking watch variables to controls
Previous topic
Channelset user-defined groups
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Note: In order to read a Dataset from the ECU, you must first open a Dataset with the same configuration
in AutoCal. When you read the Dataset from the ECU, it will overwrite the Dataset in AutoCal.
1. Open the appropriate Dataset (see Opening a Dataset).
2. Select the Dataset in the Navigator.
3. Right-click on the Dataset in the Navigator to pop up a menu, and choose Read Dataset from
ECU.
The Read Dataset Succeeded dialog box will be displayed when the process is complete.
4. Select the Dataset in the Navigator.
5. Press OK to close the dialog box.
Next topic
Channelsets - monitoring variables in the ECU
Previous topic
Sending a Parameter On-line - patching
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Regrading a Dataset
When you create a new version of a metafile the structure of existing Datasets from the previous version
may become invalid. AutoCal allows you to ‘regrade’ existing Datasets to match the structure of a new
version of the metafile.
To regrade a Dataset:
1. Right-click on the Dataset in the Navigator to select it and pop up a menu.
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2. Choose Regrade Dataset from the pop-up menu to display the Select Metafile To Convert To
dialog box.
This is a standard Windows® Open dialog box.
3. Use the dialog box to select the new version of the metafile and press Open to display the Save
Regraded Calibration As dialog box.
This is a standard Windows® Save dialog box.
4. Use the dialog box to select a folder for the Dataset and enter a name for it.
The new regraded Dataset will be loaded into the Navigator and the Regrade Output dialog box will be
displayed summarizing the actions taken:
You can select text in the dialog box using the usual Windows® techniques - for example, drag the cursor
through the text, or click at the beginning of the selection and SHIFT-click at the end or right click in the text
box to pop up a menu and choose Select All.
To copy the text selected in the Regrade Output dialog box to the Windows® clipboard:
Right click in the text box to pop up a menu and choose Copy.
You can paste the copied text into a word processor or text editor.
Next topic
Choosing the units for a parameter
Previous topic
Saving and removing Datasets
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To relink the controls that are linked to one Dataset (Dataset A for example), to parameters with the same
name in a different Dataset (Dataset B for example):
1. Drag the Dataset icon for Dataset A and drop it on the icon for Dataset B.
A menu will pop up.
2. Choose Assign Dataset to link the controls previously linked to parameters in Dataset A to the
equivalent parameters in Dataset B.
Note: If you drop the Dataset on one of the parameters or parameter groups in the target Dataset, the
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menu will contain the Copy Tree Parameters command, allowing you to copy parameter values
from Dataset B to Dataset B - see Copying data - Mix and Match for details.
Next topic
Selecting controls
Previous topic
Linking data to controls
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Removing a Channelset
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Saving a Channelset
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2 Either, if the Channelset has been saved previously in AutoCal and you want to save it again in
the same file:
Choose Save Channelset.
Or, if you want to save the Channelset for the first time, or want to save it in a new file:
a. Choose Save As from the pop-up menu to display the Save As dialog box.
This is a standard Windows® dialog box.
b. Use the Save As dialog box to select a folder and enter a name for the Channelset - see
the context-sensitive Help for this dialog box if you need more information.
c. Press Save to save the Channelset.
When the Channelset is saved, any user groups you have created, the Watching state of the variables and
their polling rates will be saved.
Next topic
Removing a Channelset
Previous topic
Copying the value of a watched variable to a Dataset
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5. Type into the Enter comment box any comment you want saved with the Dataset - the
comment will be timestamped to show the time the Dataset was saved. See Documenting a
Dataset for how to view comments and add them to Datasets at other times.
6. Enter or edit your name in the Who box and the location in the Where box - these context fields
will be appended to the comment.
7. Uncheck Copy existing comments to new dataset if you want the new comment to replace
any existing ones; leave it checked if you want to add it to the existing comments.
8. Press OK to save the Dataset.
To save a Dataset after you have changed it using its current name:
1. Right-click on the Dataset in the Navigator to select it and pop up a menu.
2. Choose Save from the pop-up menu to display the Save Dataset dialog box:
3. Type into the Enter comment box any comment you want saved with the Dataset - the
comment will be timestamped to show the time the Dataset was saved.
4. Enter or edit your name in the Who box and the location in the Where box - these context fields
will be appended to the comment.
5. Press OK to save the Dataset.
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The Keywords page in the Search Criteria dialog box allows you to set conditions on the text contained in
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[89(10)]5 85
95
105
[-] Matches any character in 1[2-4]5 125
the (alphabetical) range
135
145
[b-e]at bat
cat
dat
eat
[^ ] Matches any character [^1] any character except 1
except those following ^ in
the brackets [^0-9] any character except a digit
Note: The comments found by the Keywords search criteria must also satisfy any Timestamps criteria -
see the next topic.
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Next topic
Search Criteria dialog box - Timestamps page
Previous topic
Search Criteria dialog box - Location page (disk searching only)
The Location page in the Search Criteria dialog box allows you to set conditions on the location, names
and types of the Dataset files searched for:
To specify conditions on the location, names and types of the Dataset files searched for:
1. In the File spec box, specify the names of the files to be found.
You can use the * and ? wild panels in the usual way to specify a class of names. For
example:
*.dat will search all .dat files
s*.dat will search all .dat files with file name beginning with s
???.dat will search all .dat files with three letter file names.
You can use a semicolon to specify multiple file specifications. For example:
s*.dat; p*.met will search all .dat files beginning with s or p.
2. In the Search Paths box, specify the folders where the files are to be found.
You can use a semicolon to specify multiple paths - all the paths will be searched.
You can press the button to display a folder browser so that you can select the required
folder path rather than have to type it in the path. If you have already specified a path, the
new path will be added to the existing one with a semicolon separator.
3. Check Include subfolders if you want to search all the folders within the folders specified in the
Search Paths box; uncheck it if you just want to find files directly within the specified folders.
Next topic
Search Criteria dialog box - Keywords page
Previous topic
Setting Search Criteria
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The Timestamps page in the Search Criteria dialog box allows you to set conditions on the date and time
of any comments satisfying any Keywords criteria:
If you do not want to set any conditions on the time or date of comments:
Click on the All comments radio button.
To specify conditions on the date and time of comments, do one of the following:
To search for Datasets containing comments added within a set number of days:
1. Click on the during the previous ... day(s) radio button.
2. Click on the up/down arrows at the right-hand edge of the day(s) box or type in the required
number.
To search for Datasets containing comments added within a set number of months:
1. Click on the during the previous ... month(s) radio button.
2. Click on the up/down arrows at the right-hand edge of the month(s) box or type in the required
number.
To search for Datasets containing comments added between two specified dates:
1. Click on the between ... and ... radio button.
2. To set the earliest and latest dates in the range, either:
Click on the day, month and year figures in turn and type in the required numbers.
or
Click the down-arrow to display a calendar so that you can specify the dates - see the
instructions later in this topic for how to use the calendar.
3. If you want to refine the range by specifying times within the earliest and/or latest dates, check
the check boxes in the relevant time box. Then, click on the Hours figure and type in the
required number, or click on the up/down arrows at the right-hand edge of the time box. Repeat
for the Minutes and Seconds.
To specify a date using a calendar:
1. Click on the down arrow at the right-hand side of the date box to display the calendar:
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AutoCal allows you to search for Dataset using the comments in the Datasets. You can search for Dataset
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files on disk or amongst the Datasets loaded into the Navigator. You can search for text in the comments
and/or for the date/time that the comment was added. When searching for Dataset files, you can also
specify the location(s) of the files.
Note: It is important to remember that the search is performed on the comments in the Datasets - if a
Dataset does not contain a comment, it cannot be found by a search.
To search for Datasets:
1. Right-click on Calibration Manager in the Navigator to pop up a menu.
2. Display the Search Criteria dialog box by choosing:
Find on disk to search for Datasets saved on Disk.
Search Datasets to search the Datasets loaded into the Navigator.
Note: Once you have displayed the Search Criteria dialog box, any previous search results will be
destroyed. If the search is successful, the previous results will be replaced by the new ones; if the
search is unsuccessful or if you do not carry out the search, the previous results will be removed,
leaving the Search Results empty.
The next topic shows you how to use the Search Criteria dialog box to set search criteria.
Next topic
Setting Search Criteria
Previous topic
Documenting a Dataset
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To select all the displayed cells of a table with two or more dimensions:
Click on the box where the two axes meet at the top left-hand corner of the table:
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Selecting controls
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Next topic
Sending a Parameter On-line - patching
Previous topic
Sending a Dataset to the ECU
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You can send parameters to the ECU in two ways: off-line, when the complete Dataset is sent; or on-line,
when individual parameters are sent while the ECU is controlling the device.
Next topic
Sending a Dataset Off-line
Previous topic
Transferring data between AutoCal and the ECU
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To patch an ECU:
1. Ensure that you have the correct Dataset for the ECU open in AutoCal.
Note: When you start patching, the complete Dataset will be sent from AutoCal to the ECU before you
make any on-line changes to individual parameters. This means that you may want to read the
Dataset from the ECU before you start patching to ensure there are no other changes before you
start editing the values of individual parameters.
2. Right-click on the Dataset in the Navigator to pop up a menu, and choose Start Patching - the
command will change to Stop Patching - Currently Patching to show that patching is in
progress.
The Patching Indicator will be displayed in the Windows ® Task Bar system tray while you are in
patching mode:
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Note also that the CAN Connection Indicator will be green to show that there is a current CAN
connection.
3. Edit the Dataset as required - see Creating and working with AutoCal data controls and the
topics following it.
4. Right-click on the Dataset in the Navigator to pop up a menu, and choose Stop Patching -
Currently Patching.
The Save changes to Dataset dialog box will be displayed:
5. Press Yes to confirm that you want to keep the changes you have made to the Dataset (in the
ECU and in the PC) since starting patching ; press No to revert the Dataset (in the ECU and in
the PC) to the parameter values it had when you started patching.
The Finished Patching dialog box will be displayed when the changes have been committed or
the Dataset has been reverted to its previous state.
Next topic
Reading a Dataset from the ECU
Previous topic
Sending a Dataset Off-line
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The Search Criteria dialog box has a number of pages (three for a disk search; two for a loaded Dataset
search), which enable you to specify the search conditions:
The Location page allows you to specify the location of the Dataset files and the name and types of
the files (naturally, this is only relevant for disk searching).
The Keywords page allows you to specify text that must appear in the Dataset comments for a
Dataset to be found.
The Timestamps page allows you to specify the dates of the comments specified on the Keywords
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page.
When the search is carried out, the results will show the Datasets satisfying all the conditions on all the
pages. The following topics describe each of the Search Criteria dialog box pages in turn.
Next topic
Search Criteria dialog box - Location page (disk searching only)
Previous topic
Searching for Datasets
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As well as being able to change the position, size and shape of controls on the panel, you can customize
their appearance in many other ways. To do this you set the control’s properties.
Note: The following instructions do not apply to Compare controls.To set a control’s properties:
Choose Properties... from the CtrlType Control Properties submenu in the Edit menu or the
menu displayed when you right-click on the control.
The CtrlType Control Properties dialog box will be displayed.
The CtrlType Control Properties dialog box has a number of different pages. Three of these pages are
common to many controls (though not all of the properties they contain can be applied to all controls) and
are described in General properties - controls. For details of properties specific to each of the different
types of control, see:
Analog Meter
Bar
Button
Edit
Indicator
Slider
Static Text
Thermometer
Command Button
Table
ParamView
Next topic
General properties
Previous topic
Deleting, copying and pasting controls
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To set the rate at which the data is refreshed for periodic watching (see Periodic and state Watching)
and/or to mark or unmark a variable:
1. Right-click on the variable you want to modify to pop up a menu.
2. Choose Properties to pop up the Watch variable Properties dialog box (where Watch
variable is the name of the selected watch variable):
The example picture shows the appearance of the dialog box when a scalar variable is selected
- the Watch Rate box does not appear if a table variable is selected.
3. For a scalar variable, enter the refresh rate you require in the Watch Rate box.
4. Check Marked for Watching to mark the variable if you want to be able to include it amongst a
set of variables for which Watching can be switched on or off together.
5. Press OK to confirm the settings and close the dialog box.
Next topic
Switching Watching on and off
Previous topic
Marking variables for watching
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Note: If any of the results of this operation would be less than the minimum or greater than the maximum
value set in the Metafile, they will be set to the minimum or maximum value, respectively.
Next topic
Adding a fixed amount to the values of a selection of cells
Previous topic
Selecting a group of cells in a table
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See Setting control properties for how to display the Slider Control Properties dialog box and set those
properties on the General, Colors and Font pages that can be applied to Edit Controls.
The Slider Control Properties dialog box also has a Slider page:
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General Toolbar
The General toolbar contains a collection of tools for carrying out file and document operations:
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File > Panel... Display the Open dialog box so that you can open a previously saved
panel
File > Save Save the selected panel to its existing file - display the Save As dialog
box if not previously saved
File > Design Mode Switch Design mode on or off - button depressed when Design mode on
Edit > Cut Remove the selected control(s) and place it on the Windows ® clipboard
Edit > Copy Copy the selected control(s) onto the Windows® clipboard
Edit > Paste Paste the contents of the Windows® clipboard onto the panel
Help > About Display the About dialog box showing information about the version of
ToolBench you are running
Context-sensitive Help is not implemented in this release of the
software
Next topic
Alignment Toolbox
Previous topic
Toolbars
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To switch Watching on or off for all the marked variables in the whole Channelset:
1. Right-click on the Channelset icon to pop up a menu.
2. Choose Start Watching All Marked or Stop Watching All Marked.
Watched variables are shown with a red tick in the Navigator, whether marked or not To check if a watched
variable is also marked, right-click on it and see if the Marked for Watching command is checked, or look
at the variable properties.
Next topic
Logging the values of watched variables to a file
Previous topic
Setting the rate for periodic watching and marking variables
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See Setting control properties for how to display the TablCtrl Control Properties dialog box.
None of the properties on the General, Colors and Font pages can be applied to Table Controls. However,
you can apply the properties on the Table Editor page:
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6. Choose Decimal or Hexadecimal from the Number base drop-down list box to choose how to
display the data.
7. Choose whether to automatically select another cell when you press the ENTER key with a cell
selected, and if so which direction to move. This can greatly speed up data entry.
8. Use the Axis configuration to set the orientation of the table, and for a three dimensional table,
which Plane along the third axis to display - see the next topic for how to do this using the
equivalent Table Control toolbar controls.
Next topic
Viewing table data
Previous topic
Using the Table Control to view and edit data
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See Setting control properties for how to display the Text Control Properties dialog box and set those
properties on the Colors and Font pages that can be applied to Static Text Control.
The General page in the Static Text Control Properties dialog box is different from that on other
Properties dialog boxes:
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AutoCal
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You can use the Static Text Control to place labels or comments on the panel - text controls are not linked
to data in Datasets.
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You can create a Static Text Control using the Static Text Control button in the Controls
toolbox - see Creating and working with AutoCal data controls for full information about
creating controls and linking them to data in a Dataset.
Next topic
Text Control properties
Previous topic
Editing data with the button control
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See Setting control properties for how to display the Thermometer Control Properties dialog box and set
those properties on the General, Colors and Font pages that can be applied to Thermometer Controls.
The Thermometer Control Properties dialog box also has a Thermometer page:
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Toolbars
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AutoCal
Next topic
General Toolbar
Previous topic
Navigator pop-up menus
Item menu
The contents of the Item menu depend on what item is selected in the Navigator - it has the same contents
as the corresponding Navigator pop-up menu.Next topic
Window
Previous topic
Layout
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User setups
Next topic
Panels
Previous topic
Command Button Control properties
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User-defined groups
In addition to the groups defined in the Metafile, the Navigator shows five user-defined groups. You can
use these to group together sets of parameters that you want to get to quickly without having to navigate
the hierarchy defined in the Metafile.
Note: The user-defined groups are provided for convenience when you are using AutoCal. Placing a
parameter in a group gives you another way of accessing that parameter - the parameters in user-
defined groups are just shortcuts or references to the original parameters not a new copy that you
can change independently. Adding and using parameters in user-defined groups has no effect on
the way data is downloaded to an ECU.
To add a parameter to a user-defined group:
1. Display the parameter in the Navigator by opening the relevant groups.
2. Drag the parameter and drop it onto the user-defined group.
3. A menu will be displayed allowing you to choose whether to add a 'reference' to the parameter
or cancel the operation.
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Note: As you drag the parameter, the pointer has a short-cut icon attached to it to show that you are just
creating another way of accessing the parameter and not changing the structure of the Dataset.
To add all the parameters in a group, another user-defined group, or the complete dataset to a user-
defined group:
1. Drag the group or the dataset onto or into the user-defined group.
2. A menu will be displayed allowing you to choose, when appropriate:
Add Reference - to add references to all the parameters within the group (or dataset) and
within any subgroups within the group (or dataset).
Copy - (not available if you are dragging the dataset) to set the values of the parameters
referred to in the target user-defined group to the values of the parameters in the source group
(see Matching conditions for copy operations for the conditions that must be satisfied if a copy
operation is to succeed).
Cancel Operation.
To copy the structure of a user defined group from one Dataset to another:
1. Drag the source user-defined group onto the target user-defined group.
2. A menu will be displayed.
3. Choose Add Reference.
The parameters in the source user-defined group will be added to the target user-defined group (provided
they appear in the target Dataset), but the values of the parameters will not be changed. This means that
once you have set up the user-defined groups in one Dataset, you can use this technique to copy their
structure (the list of parameters they contain) to other similar Datasets and do not need to build them again
from scratch.
Note: The menu also has Copy and Copy by tag commands: see Copying data - Mix and Match for more
information about these commands.
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Note: The names and contents of any user-defined groups are saved with the Dataset when you save it.
Next topic
Copying data - Mix and Match
Previous topic
Accessing data
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AutoCal provides a range of instrument controls for viewing data. These ‘Virtual Instruments’ include:
Analog Meters
Bars
Thermometers
Indicators
You can create these controls using the appropriate control button in the Controls toolbox - see Creating
and working with AutoCal data controls for full information about creating controls and linking them to data
in a Dataset.
The following picture shows in the first column an Analog Meter, a Bar, and an Indicator, a Chart Recorder
in the center and a Thermometer on the right-hand side:
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Next topic
Analog Meter Control properties
Previous topic
Editing data using a Slider Control
2-D Graph Controls allow you to view and edit data in one- and two-dimensional tables.
You can create a 2-D Graph Control using the 2dgraph Control button in the Controls
toolbox - see Creating and working with AutoCal data controls for full information about
creating controls and linking them to data in a Dataset.
Next topic
2-D Graph Control properties
Previous topic
Using the Table Editor to view and edit data
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The Button control is an On/Off control with latching and non-latching options.
You can create a Button Control using the Button Control button in the Controls toolbox -
see Creating and working with AutoCal data controls for full information about creating
controls and linking them to data in a Dataset.
Note: When a button is used to turn a parameter on (off), it sets the parameter to the maximum (minimum)
value set for the parameter in the Metafile. This means that turning a parameter on and then off (or
vice versa) does not reset it to its original value if it was not initially at the minimum (maximum)
value.
Next topic
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Edit Controls allow you to view and edit scalar (single value) parameters (you can link a table to an Edit
Control, but this only allows you to edit the first cell in the table).
You can create an Edit Control using the Edit Control button in the Controls toolbox - see
Creating and working with AutoCal data controls for full information about creating controls
and linking them to data in a Dataset.
Next topic
Edit Control properties
Previous topic
Editing data using the 2-D Graph Control
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The ParamView control gives a quick way of viewing the contents of items in the Dataset. In particular, it
shows the type of data and any comments added to the script Metafile to help you choose the most
suitable controls for viewing and editing parameters.
You can create a Parameter Viewer control using the ParamView button in the Controls
toolbox - see Creating and working with AutoCal data controls for full information about
creating controls and linking them to data in a Dataset.
Next topic
Parameter Viewer Control Properties
Previous topic
Setting Data Source properties
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This topic shows you how to create a sample Dataset using the Pi Metafile Compiler. Many of the
instructions in this Help system use this sample Dataset to illustrate AutoCal’s functionality.
Note: The Pi Metafile Compiler is a separate program supplied with Pi ToolBench.
The sample Dataset is in the form of a script Metafile with an .smf extension. Before you can open the
sample Dataset in AutoCal, you need to compile the script Metafile to create a binary Metafile file, which
will be saved with a .met extension.
To compile and save a Metafile:
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2. Choose Open Sample from the File menu. The Sample.smf Metafile will be displayed in a
window.
3. Choose Compile from the File menu to display the Output window, followed by the Save As
dialog box.
This is a standard Windows® dialog box.
4. Use the Save As dialog box to select a folder and enter a name for the compiled file - see the
context-sensitive Help for this dialog box if you need more information.
5. Click Save to save the file and close the dialog box.
A message in the Output window will confirm that the file has been saved.
6. Choose Exit from the File menu to close the Pi Metafile Compiler.
You will now be able to open, view and edit the sample Dataset in AutoCal.
Note: You can also use the Pi Metafile Compiler to create, view and edit Channelset metafiles.
Next topic
The AutoCal interface
Previous topic
Overview
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Slider Controls allow you to view and edit scalar (single value) parameters (you can link a table to a Slider
Control, but this only allows you to edit the first cell in the table).
You can create a Slider Control using the Slider Control button in the Controls toolbox - see
Creating and working with AutoCal data controls for full information about creating controls
and linking them to data in a Dataset.
Next topic
Slider Control properties
Previous topic
Viewing and editing the data
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You can use a Table Control to view and edit scalar or table parameters.
Note: You can also use a Table Editor to view and edit table data.
You can create a Table Control using the TablCtrl button in the Controls toolbox - see
Creating and working with AutoCal data controls for full information about creating controls
and linking them to data in a Dataset.
Next topic
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As an alternative to displaying a table in a Table control, you can display it in a Table Editor. You can think
of a Table Editor as an extension of the ParamView control - just as you can rapidly view and change
scalar parameters in the ParamView control without having to create and set up other controls on a panel,
a Table Editor allows you to view and change table parameters without having to create and set up a Table
Control.
To display a table in a Table Editor:
1. Display the table parameter in the ParamView control (see Using the Parameter Viewer Control
(ParamView)).
2. Double-click on the entry for the table.
Note: If you double-click on another table parameter in the same ParamView control, it will be displayed in
the same Table Editor; if you double-click on a table parameter in a different ParamView control, it
will be displayed in a new Table Editor.
The table will be displayed in a Table Editor:
A Table Editor is a free-floating window. You can move it and resize it in exactly the same way as other
windows.
When a Table Editor is displayed, you can display other tables in it by dragging the table from the
Navigator or a ParamView control into the Table Editor.
To close a Table Editor:
Click on the Table Editor window’s close button.
Or
Delete the ParamView control from which the Table Editor was created.
The table in a Table Editor is displayed the same way as in a Table Control, and you use the same
techniques for choosing the Axis Orientation, and (for tables with more than two dimensions) the
displayed axes and position along the undisplayed axes - see Viewing table data.
You can change the values of individual cells in the same way as in a Table Control (see Editing table
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data). However, unlike in a Table Control, you cannot change the values of a block of cells at the same
time.
Next topic
Using the 2-D Graph Control to view and edit data
Previous topic
Copying the values of cells from one part of a table to another
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Version folders
When you open a Dataset in AutoCal it is placed in a folder within Calibration Manager. If you open two
Metafiles or Datasets with the same version number, they will both appear in the same version folder:
If you open another Metafile or Dataset with a new version number, it will appear in a new version folder
showing its version number:
Next topic
Documenting a Dataset
Previous topic
Dataset linked and parameter changed indicators
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View
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Next topic
Layout
Previous topic
Edit
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The Edit Control shows the value of the linked parameter with the precision selected on the General page
in the Edit Control Properties dialog box (Digits after DP).
To edit the value shown in an Edit Control:
1. Click in the control to place an editing caret. (Double-click to select the value if you want to
replace it completely.)
Note: To carry out this operation using the keyboard: press F6 to tab between the controls until the edit
control is selected, press the down or right arrow key to select the value and either type in a new
value or use the arrow keys to move an editing caret in the text to edit the existing value.
2. Edit the value, or enter a new value.
3. Press ENTER to finish editing the value.
If you try to enter a value greater than the maximum or less than the minimum value set for the parameter
in the Metafile, the value will be set to the maximum or minimum value, respectively.
You can use the default or User-defined Caption (see General properties) to show which parameter it is
linked to. However, even if you don’t use a caption, you will be able to identify the linked parameter by
moving the pointer over the Edit Control: after a few seconds, a tool tip will be displayed showing the Edit
Control’s value and linked parameter:
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As its name implies, the content of this table acts as one of the axes of another table - Parameter A2 in
Group 1:
Here the Parameter A2 axis 1 table sets the horizontal axis; the table Parameter A2 axis 2 sets the
vertical axis. The fact that the axes are themselves tables is shown by the axis labels being in black text
rather than gray.
When the axis of a table is itself a table, you can edit the axes. You could drag the axis table from the
Navigator onto a table control (as in the picture of the one-dimensional table), but AutoCal provides a
shortcut.
Note: You can only edit the axis for a table (for example axis 2 in Parameter A2) if the axis table (for
example Parameter A2 axis 2) appears independently in the AutoCal Data Manager so that you can
view and edit it in a Table Control. This means that the axis table must be included in the Metafile’s
Display Tree.
To edit an axis table:
Double-click on the axis label. The Axis table will be displayed in the table control:
Note that the orientation of the axis is maintained - the vertical axis is shown vertically; the horizontal axis would be
shown horizontally.
You can now edit the values in the axis tables to change the scales. For example :
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Note: You can only edit the axis for a table (for example axis 2 in Parameter A2) if the axis table (for
example Parameter A2 axis 2) appears independently in the Navigator so that you can view and
edit it in a Table Control. This means that the axis table must be included in the Metafile’s Display
Tree.
Next topic
Changing the orientation of a table
Previous topic
Table Control properties
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3. Click on View comments that match the search criteria to view just the comments satisfying
the keyword and timestamp criteria; click on View all comments to view all the comments:
Next topic
Opening found Datasets
Previous topic
Carrying out a search
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Workbook
Cascade Rearranges the open non-minimized panels so that they overlap with
only the title bars and left-hand edges of lower panels showing
Tile Horizontally Rearranges the open non-minimized panels so that they do not
overlap, fill the document area and each panel is wider than it is tall
(landscape format)
Tile Vertically Rearranges the open non-minimized panels so that they do not
overlap, fill the document area and each panel is taller than it is wide
(portrait format)
Arrange Icons Rearranges the icons of minimized panels along the bottom edge of
the document area
Open panels The Window menu lists the names of the open panels - choose a
panel name from the list to select the panel (bring it to the front if it is
not minimized; restore it and bring it to the front if it is minimized)
Next topic
Help
Previous topic
Item
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Using the Pi Metafile Compiler to create a sample Dataset showed you how to create a binary metafile
Dataset (.met) file from a script metafile (.smf) file. The metafile contains definitions of the data structures
and default parameter values. Typically, the software developers will only create a new metafile when they
produce a new version of the ECU software. You can think of the metafile as a template for producing
Datasets for the corresponding version of the ECU software; each of these Datasets contains the specific
parameter values for an individual ECU.
You can use AutoCal to create Datasets from a binary metafile, then edit the default parameter values in
the Dataset for use with a specific ECU and save the Dataset as a Dataset (.dat) file. You can also load
Datasets into AutoCal to view and edit the calibration parameters they contain.
Next topic
Opening a Dataset
Previous topic
The AutoCal interface
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As an example, if you drag Group 2 from the Sample Dataset (created in Using the Pi Metafile Compiler to
create a sample Dataset), you will see:
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Note that the 'path' to the item shown in the ParamView control is given at the top of the control.
The ParamView control shows that Group2 contains two sub-groups, SubGroup1 and SubGroup2
(subgroups are identified by the icon next to the name in the Name column and ParameterGroup in the
Type column) and a parameter table (parameters are identified by Parameter in the Type column; the fact
that it is a table is shown in the Value column).
The Description column shows a text description of the parameter entered with its definition in the
Metafile.
If you open Group3 in the Navigator and drag BlockC into the ParamView control, you get:
All the parameters in BlockC are scalars (single values), whose value is shown in the Value column.
Next topic
Editing data using a Parameter Viewer Control
Previous topic
Parameter Viewer Control Properties
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The commands in the Align Controls and Centre in Panel submenus of the Layout menu allow you to
position the selected controls relative to each other or the panel, respectively.
To align two or more controls relative to each other:
1. Select the controls.
2. Choose the relevant command from the Align Controls submenu in the Layout menu or the
menu displayed when you right-click on one of the controls.
or
Press the relevant button in the Alignment toolbox:
For example: if you choose Align Controls>Left, all the selected controls will be aligned to the left-hand
edge of the leftmost selected control; if you choose Align Controls>Horizontal Centre, all the selected
controls will be aligned so that their horizontal centres coincide with the point half way between the left-
hand edge of the leftmost selected control and the right-hand edge of the rightmost selected control.
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See Setting control properties for how to display the Command Button Control Properties dialog box and
set those properties on the General, Colors and Font pages that can be applied to Command Button
Controls.
The Command Button Control Properties dialog box also has a Verbs page:
The Select Verb drop-down list box lists the commands in the pop-up menu for the Navigator item linked to
the button - it is empty if the button is not linked to anything, or if the linked item has no pop-up menu.
To choose which command will be chosen by pressing the button:
Select it from the Select Verb drop-down list box.
Next topic
User setups
Previous topic
Using the Command Button control
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The Command Button control provides an alternative mechanism for running the commands in Navigator pop-up
menus.
Pressing a Command Button to carry out a command replaces the three steps of displaying the relevant item in the
Navigator, right-clicking on it to display the menu and then choosing the required menu item with a single step.
However, Command Buttons do take up space on a panel, so you would probably only want to use them for frequently
used commands or if you want to use panels without displaying the Navigator.
You can create a Command Button Control using the Command Button Control button in the
Controls toolbox - see Creating and working with AutoCal data controls for full information
about creating controls.
Unlike other controls, you can link other Navigator items within the Calibration Manager besides
parameters to a Command Button. For example, if you drag Calibration Manager itself on to a button, you
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will be able to assign any of the Calibration Manager pop-up menu commands to the button.
Next topic
Command Button Control properties
Previous topic
Text Control properties
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Design mode
You use AutoCal’s design mode to create panels and to place move and resize the controls on the panels.
When you have finished designing the panels, you can turn Design mode off to lock the controls in place
while you use the panels to work with AutoCal.
To turn Design Mode on or off:
Next topic
Working with a grid
Previous topic
Creating, saving and opening panels
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When a panel is In Design mode, you can display a grid on the panel and choose to make controls snap to
the grid when you place them on the panel.
To display or hide a grid on a panel:
1 Click in the panel to select it.
Next topic
Workspaces
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Previous topic
Design Mode
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AutoCal allows you to record the results from watched variables in a log file. For efficiency, the data is
recorded in a special format, which you can convert to a readable format using the LogFileProcessor utility
supplied with AutoCal.
If logging is turned on for a watched variable in a Channelset, each time the value is updated, the ECU
time, variable name and variable value will be recorded in the log file.
To switch logging on or off for all the watched variables in a Channelset:
1. Right-click on the Channelset icon to pop up a menu.
2. Choose Start Logging All or Stop Logging All.
To switch logging on or off for all the watched variables in a group:
1. Right-click on the group icon to pop up a menu.
2. Choose Start Logging Group or Stop Logging Group.
To switch logging on or off for an individual watched variable in a Channelset:
1. Right-click on the variable in the Channelset to pop up a menu.
2. Choose Start Logging Parameter or Stop Logging Parameter.
Note 1 A new log file will be created when you start logging.
Note 2 The log file will only log data for variables that are watched when the Start Logging command is
chosen - you can start watching other variables after logging has been started, but their results will
not be recorded.
Note 3 You can use Stop Logging All to stop all logging even if you were only logging an individual
parameter or group of parameters. On the other hand, if you are logging all parameters or a group of
parameters, you cannot use Stop Logging Parameter to switch off logging for just an individual
parameter. Similarly, if you are logging all parameters, you cannot use Stop Logging Group to
switch off logging for an individual group of parameters.
As well as automatically recording the values of watched variables as they are updated, you can insert a
manual mark in the log file.
To add a manual mark at the current point in the log file:
1. Right-click on the Channelset icon to pop up a menu.
2. Choose User Event.
Note The time of a user event is not recorded explicitly but can be determined approximately from the
times of the watched variable results recorded in the log file immediately before it and after it.
Next topic
Converting a log file to a readable format
Previous topic
Switching Watching on and off
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For efficiency, the log file is recorded in a binary format, so you will need to use convert it to another format
to read it.
To convert the log file to a readable format:
1. Start the LogFileProcessor utility (LogFileProcessor.exe):
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General Properties
See Setting control properties for how to open the Properties dialog box for a control.
Note: Some of the properties on the General page do not apply to some controls.
The following paragraphs describe the settings you can make on the General page.
User-defined Caption
Check User-defined Caption to use the text in the Caption text box as a caption on the control; uncheck it
to use the parameter’s name/source. This setting only has an effect on the control if Display Data Name is
also checked.
Caption
This is enabled when User-defined Caption is checked. Enter text in the Caption box to use as a caption
on the control instead of the parameter’s name/source - it will only be displayed on the control if Display
Data Name is also checked.
Display Units
This function is not implemented in this release of the software.
Display Value
Check Display Value to show the parameter’s value on the control.
Auto-format Display
Check Auto-format Display to let AutoCal define the number of digits before and after the decimal point
automatically.
Digits after DP
When Auto-format Display is not checked, enter the number of digits to appear after the decimal point - if
necessary the display will be padded with trailing 0s.
Digits before DP
When Auto-format Display is not checked, enter the number of digits to appear before the decimal point -
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Auto-range Values
For 2-D and 3-D Graph controls, check Auto-range Values to allow AutoCal to choose the most
appropriate minimum and maximum values.
Minimum Value
When Auto-range Values is not checked, enter the minimum value of the control into the Minimum Value
box.
Maximum Value
When Auto-range Values is not checked, enter the maximum value of the control into the Maximum
Value box.
Next topic
Colors
Previous topic
Setting control properties
AutoCal allows you to save snapshots showing the values of individual parameters, parameter groups or
the complete Dataset.
The Snapshot command appears on the Item menu when any of the following items are selected in the
Navigator (and in the menus displayed when you right-click on the item in the Navigator):
a Dataset
a parameter group (but not a user-defined group)
a parameter
When you choose the command for any of these items, the Snapshot Active dialog box will be displayed:
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time is the current hour, minute and second in numbers without any punctuation separating them.
Note that this means that sorting the files alphabetically will also sort them chronologically for each Dataset.
The snapshot file will contain a record of the Dataset file path and name, the date and time it was saved,
the comments from the Snapshot Active dialog box, followed by the parameter values.
Next topic
Creating and working with AutoCal data controls
Previous topic
Applying constraints to parameters in a Dataset
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You can define maximum and minimum values for parameters in a Dataset in its Metafile. However, you
can also define and impose much more complex and powerful constraints. For example, you could require
that the values in a table are strictly increasing as you go down the table. To define the constraint, you
include Visual Basic code in the metafile - this gives you the freedom to define virtually any constraints you
like. You can then impose the constraints on the Dataset in AutoCal. You can choose to check that all the
constraints in a Dataset are satisfied, or just those that affect a specific parameter. You can also choose to
make AutoCal automatically check that any changes you make to parameters satisfy any constraints.
Note: The definition of constraints is beyond the scope of this manual. The constraints feature is provided
to allow users to access their own code within the Metafile. Responsibility for the correctness and
use of this code remains entirely with the user, so Pi Technology cannot provide any support for the
use of the constraint functions in AutoCal.
To choose whether AutoCal should automatically maintain any constraints defined for a Dataset:
1. Right-click on the Dataset in the AutoCal Data manager to pop up a menu.
2. Choose Auto Constrain.
Auto Constrain is checked in the menu when constraints are automatically maintained. Auto Constrain is
on by default.
When Auto Constrain is in force, if you try to change a parameter in a way that violates a constraint, a
dialog box will be displayed warning you and the parameter value will be left unchanged - there is a check
box in the dialog box allowing you to turn further warnings off.
Note: When you switch Auto Constrain on, AutoCal does not check that all constraints are currently
satisfied. If, while Auto Constrain is on, you try to edit a value that violates a constraint, AutoCal
will let you change it to a value that satisfies all constraints, but if you try to change it to another
value that also violates a constraint, AutoCal will leave the original (constraint violating) value
unchanged.
You can check whether the Dataset or an individual parameter satisfies the constraints. (You may want to
do this if Auto Constrain is not selected, or if it is selected but you think some parameters violated
constraints before it was selected.)
To check whether all the parameters in a Dataset satisfy any constraints:
1. Right-click on the Dataset in the AutoCal Data manager to pop up a menu.
2. Choose Run Constraints on Dataset.
If a parameter violates a constraint, a dialog box will be displayed:
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The dialog box shows the parameter that violated a constraint and an error message that is defined in the
Metafile with the constraint definition.
Press:
Abort to stop checking the constraints on any remaining parameters
Retry to apply the constraint again
Ignore to continue checking the constraints on any remaining parameters.
If you press Ignore, and a further violation of a constraint is found, the dialog box will be redisplayed
appropriately. When all checks are complete, a dialog box will be displayed showing a summary of the
constraint violations found:
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The Navigator shows if there are any parameters in a Dataset linked to a panel control by giving the Dataset icon a
background. The Navigator also shows if any parameter has been changed since the Dataset was last saved by an
asterisk (*) Dataset icon and the Dataset’s name - the changed parameters are marked in the same way:
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In this example, Parameter A1 has been linked to a control (hence the background to the Dataset icon), and has been
changed (hence the asterisks in front of Sample.dat and Parameter A1).
Next topic
Version folders
Previous topic
Opening a Dataset
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The Data Manager shows when a parameter has been changed sine the Dataset was last saved by
displaying an asterisk between the parameter and its icon:
Next topic
Saving and removing Datasets
Previous topic
Matching conditions for copy operations
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You can display the value of a watch variable by linking it to a control on a panel in the same way as you link a Dataset
parameter to a control by dragging it from the Navigator onto the control.
When you link a watch variable to a control watching for that variable is started automatically. If you delete a control
linked to watch variable (and the variable is not linked to any other controls), watching for that variable will be switched
off automatically and the variable unmarked for watching. See later topics in this section for more information about
marking variables for watching and for other ways to turn variable watching on and off.
Next topic
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When you select the Copy and Copy by tag commands to copy parameter values within a Dataset or from
one Dataset to another, AutoCal checks that the source and target parameters 'match', and no data is
copied if any of the matches fail.
Two parameters match if they have:
the same size and shape
the same units (the string comparison is case-sensitive)
compatible ranges. This means that the source range must be the same as or lie within the target
range. For example, a parameter with a range of 15-80 can be copied onto a target with a range of
10-90, but not vice-versa. (Note that the comparison is performed in engineering units.)
for tables, any axis parameters must also match between the source and target.
Also, when a group is copied on to a group, the structure of the source and target groups must match.
Next topic
Reverting a parameter to its last saved value
Previous topic
Copying data - Mix and Match
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Comparing Datasets
You can use a Compare Control to compare two Datasets, parameter groups or parameters (the parameter groups and
parameters may be in the same or different Datasets). The control can be used to compare the parameter structures or
values, and when comparing different Datasets, whether corresponding parameters (parameters with the same
tagname) exist in the two Datasets.
You can create a Compare Control using the Compare button on the AutoCal page of the Controls
toolbar - see Creating and working with AutoCal data controls for full information about creating
controls.
When you first create a Compare Control it will look something like this:
The Compare control has two panes displayed side-by-side - these will display the Datasets or groups being compared.
The Compare control also has a toolbar allowing you to control the way it behaves - see Compare control toolbar for a
summary.
The following topics show you how to use the compare control:
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Next topic
Choosing what to compare
Previous topic
Comparing Datasets
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You can choose how parameters in different Datasets should be paired for comparison and whether to compare the
parameter values or their structure.
Note: This release of the Compare Control does not support the comparison of tables with more than two
dimensions.
Press the Compare by Tag button to compare parameters in different Datasets according to
their tagnames.
or:
Press the Compare by Order button to compare the parameters in the Datasets or groups
according to their order in the Dataset display trees. For example, if you are comparing group A
in the left-hand pane with group B in the right-hand pane, the first parameter in group A will be
compared with the first parameter in group B, without any reference to their tagnames.
Note 1: Since tagnames are unique within a Dataset, the Compare by Tag button is disabled unless you
are comparing parameters from different Datasets.
Note 2: When you make a comparison by tag AutoCal attempts to pair each of the parameters in the group
or Dataset dropped into the left-hand pane with a parameter in the Dataset dropped in the right-
hand pane or, if you dropped a parameter or group into the right-hand pane, the Dataset containing
the group or parameter.
To choose what features to compare, either:
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Press the Compare Values button to compare the values of the parameters.
or:
Press the Compare Structure button to compare the structures of the parameters - the column
headings in the comparison panes shows the structural features compared.
See Viewing the results of a comparison for examples.
Next topic
Choosing which comparisons to display
Previous topic
Comparing Datasets, groups or parameters
Next topic
Viewing the results of a comparison
Previous topic
Choosing what to compare
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After you have performed a comparison, the results are shown in the Comparison control according to the display
options selected.
For example:
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In this example, the parameters are paired by tagnames, the comparison is made on the data values, and Everything
is displayed.
Parameters with differences are shown with a gray background and the differences highlighted in red. Added
parameters (parameters in the right-hand pane but not the left-hand pane) are highlighted in blue and removed
parameters (parameters in the left-hand pane but not the right-hand pane) are highlighted in green.
Note: Although the comparison in this example is made on parameter values, added and removed
parameters and differences in Name (Parameter B3 and Parameter B4 in the example have the
same tagname but different Names) and Units (for example, Parameter D3) are also shown with a
gray background.
See the following pop-up topics to see what happens to this example when you choose other display options:
Differences only
Additions only
Removed only
Comparing parameter structures (with Differences only displayed):
Next topic
Viewing the results of a value comparison
Previous topic
Choosing which comparisons to display
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When you make a value comparison, the Value column in the Compare control shows the values of scalar parameters
but only the word Table for table parameters.
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Click in the Value column for the table parameter (it will show the word Table). A table viewer
will be displayed:
Cells where there are differences are shown with a gray background and the values of the parameter in the other pane
(the pane you did not click in to display the viewer) are shown in red and in parentheses.
Press the invert axes button in the display’s toolbar. The display will show the table with the
axes swapped around:
Press the copy button in the display’s toolbar. You can then paste the contents of the table
display into documents in a spreadsheet, word processor or other application.
Next topic
Refreshing the comparison
Previous topic
Viewing the results of a comparison
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For efficiency, the Compare Control does not automatically update when the parameters in the Dataset(s) being
compared are changed. However, if a parameter in a compared Dataset is changed, the Refresh button in the
Compare control toolbar is enabled.
To update the comparison in a Compare Control:
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Note: When you save a Workspace that has a Compare control on a panel the contents and display
options selected for the control are saved: when you reopen the Workspace the comparison will be
refreshed automatically.
Next topic
Saving a log of the comparison
Previous topic
Viewing the results of a value comparison
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2. Select an option from the Filter drop-down list box to choose which parameters to include in the
log.
You can select from the same options (and with the same meaning) as in the Compare control
itself - the option selected in the Compare control sets the initial selection for the Filter, but this
can be overridden by selecting a different option.
3. Click on the Summary or Detailed radio button to choose how much information to include for
each parameter:
A Summary log shows for each included parameter whether it is different or the same in
both Datasets or groups or whether it has been added or removed.
A Detailed log also shows the values or structures (and changes if any) of the included
parameters.
4. Check Preview log before saving to display a preview of the log when you press OK.
5. Press OK:
If you selected Preview log before saving, a preview will be displayed for example:
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Press Save if you want to save the log; press Cancel if you want to close the preview without
saving the log.
If you did not select Preview log before saving, or if you did and pressed Save, a standard
Windows Save As dialog box will be displayed.
6. Use the Save As dialog box to select a folder and enter a name for the log file, and press Save
to save it.
The log file is a plain text file, which you can open in a word processor or other text editor.
Next topic
Compare control toolbar
Previous topic
Refreshing the comparison
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Tool Action
View Filter Chooses whether to show all parameters, or only those that are the same,
different, added, or removed
Compare Values Compares the values of corresponding parameters in the comparison panes
Compare Structure Compares the structure of corresponding parameters in the comparison panes
Compare by Tag Chooses the parameters for comparison in different Datasets according to their
tags (names)
Compare by Order Chooses the parameters for comparison in the Datasets or groups according to
their order in the Dataset display tree
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Previous/Next Comparison These functions are not implemented in this release of the software
Save Comparison Displays a dialog box so that you can save a log of the comparison - you can
choose the amount of detail to save and then, in a separate dialog box, the file
to be used to save the log
Refresh Comparison Perform the comparison again if you have changed the value of any parameters
in the compared Dataset(s)
Next topic
Transferring data between AutoCal and the ECU
Previous topic
Saving a log of the comparison
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