|
StampPlot accepts data arriving on the serial port (and optionally over a
TCP connection), evaluates it, and uses the data accordingly. Data may be
analog values, digital values, control instructions, drawing instructions, or
messages.
Text in Maroon bold can
generally be tested directly using the Immediate CLI.
Basic data processing:
Except in the case of Binary analog data, ALL string must end with a Carriage
Return (ASCII 13).
 | Analog Values:
 | Any ASCII string beginning with a numeric value, single
or comma-separated.
| If Binary mode is enabled, the value is the decimal
value of the byte received. Multiple bytes may be specified for
multiple data and a checksum byte may be used for data integrity
checking. |
|
| Digital Values:
| Any string beginning with %
and containing 1's and 0's will be plotted as digital values. The
number of digital plots available is dependent on the grid size defined.
| Plotting from binary values is possible through the use
of macros and macro math to perform A to D conversion. |
|
| Any string beginning with !
is defined as a Control instructions. They are used to control and
configure the plot. Virtually anything you can do through menus in StampPlot
may be performed by a 4-letter control word.
| Any string beginning with ~,^,
or @ will be treated as a drawing
instructions for graphics or other special features. The three
different symbols indicate how that instruction is to be stored.
| Any string not meeting the above criteria will be treated
as a message and listed in the message window. |
| | | |
Accepting data and plotting is pretty quick and easy.
Format the data from your controller to match the above specifications, connect
on StampPlot at the correct Baud and port setting, and commence plotting.
Beyond the basics though, StampPlot has a wide assortment of
setting and instructions to configure it to use the data in ways you would like.
Logging:
StampPlot not only allows you to view your data visually, but provides a wide
assortment of options for logging your data.
| Send arriving data directly to files. |
| Save images of your plots for later review. |
| Print your plots for hardcopy analysis and review. |
Multimedia:
StampPlot can use image files such as BMP's, JPG's and WMF's and place them
within the plotting area, on the background, or within certain objects.
StampPlot can also play wav files for specialized sounds effects.
StampPlot comes installed with a wide variety of media, or you can make your
own.
Plot Object Controls:
Plot object controls are standard GUI controls which may be placed on the plot
and used for displaying data, control of the plot, or interactive control with
the controller. Objects include sliders, text boxes, meters, gauges, list
boxes, image buttons, plots, and a wide assortment of others.
| Plot objects can have text tips associated for quick
reference of use. |
| They can trigger StampPlot instruction code when their
event is triggered (such as clicking a button). |
| They can have values associated to them for fast real-time
updates. |
The controls instructions to create the objects can come
serially from the controller allowing specialized configurations on connect, or
from PC based macro text files.
Interactive Control:
Control values, and other data, can be requested by the microcontroller for
fast, simple interactive control of a process. Data may also be sent
un-requested to StampPlot initiated updates.
Macros:
Macros are text files of instructions (named *.spm). Macros are
non-controller specific files which can be used to configure StampPlot, and
process incoming data. The use of macros relieves the microcontroller the
burden of sending configuration data. A macro may be started manually,
called by the microcontroller, or called by other macros.
A macro may have routines which can be called
individually. Libraries of routines can be created for quick reference and
use.
The Object Editor and Macro Builder (Pro version only) allow
you to quickly add and configure objects, and to create a text file macro for
building your designed interface. The macro file (.spm) is easily shared
allowing others to use your designs.
StampPlot comes installed with a wide variety of macros
installed for different uses, or create your own GUI interfaces.
Macro Math:
StampPlot has a wide variety of math functions to manipulate data including
number base conversions, trigonometry, and Boolean algebra.
Macro Values:
Macro Values are values of StampPlot which may be easily used in instructions,
such as the current time, the maximum and minimum values of data, the last message,
the last binary data.
Drawing:
StampPlot has a wide variety of drawing instructions for use within a plot or on
the background area. With the drawing instructions you may place images, draw
lines, circles, arcs, lies, text and more. These can be used to graphical
represent your data in a multitude of ways.
A wide variety of coordinate modes are supported:
| Relative to the plot scales. |
| Absolute without reference to plot scales. |
| Based on time. |
| As a percentage of a defined area. |
File Templates:
A template files containing macro math and values may be easily used to create a
new document, such as text or HTML files. Values and math are processed
and the new file is created.
External Applications:
External applications may be opened and sent data from StampPlot for placing
your data directly into another application.
Files may also be opened from StampPlot by association.
Historical/logged Plotting:
Typically, data is plotted against the time it arrived. By setting
StampPlot to Historical Mode, data maybe plotted at defined times or intervals
for logged-data dumps from the controller.
Internet Control:
Normally StampPlot connects to a serial port on the local computer. It may
also connect via TCP/IP to a remote computer running the TCP-Serial Gateway
(included with Pro) for remote acquisition and control.
Other Data Strings:
By default, StampPlot expects ASCII strings of data ending with a carriage
return. Data may also be raw binary data, for which you configure
StampPlot for the number of bytes in a packet, and whether their is a checksum
byte.
Data may also be a specialized ASCII string from another
device, such as a serial VOM or a GPS unit. Using StampPlot math, the
string may be broken down and used for plotting or other uses. Special
strings with other delimiters may also be quickly used, such as breaking down
data based on spaces or colons.
From simple plotting to sophisticated
interfaces,
StampPlot gives you the versatility to meet your needs!
| 