User Guide

RTPTrend
Data Trending System
RTPTrend Data Trending System User Guide

© 2006 - 2013 RTP Corporation

Not for reproduction in any printed or electronic media without express written consent
from RTP Corp.
All information, data, graphics and statements in this document are proprietary
intellectual property of RTP Corp. unless otherwise indicated and are to be considered
RTP Corp. confidential. This intellectual property is made available solely for the direct
use of potential or licensed RTP Corp. customers in their application of RTP Corp.
products, and any other use or distribution is expressly prohibited. If you have received
this publication in error, immediately delete, discard or return all copies to RTP Corp.

RTP Corporation
2832 Center Port Circle
Pompano Beach, FL 33064
Phone: (954) 597-5333
Internet: http://www.rtpcorp.com

File Name: rtptrend.pdf

Last Updated: 9/17/13

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Contents

Contents 3

Introduction 1
1-1 Overview 1
1-2 This Document 1

User Interface 2
2-1 Main Window 2
2-2 Menu Bar 3
2-2.1 File Menu 3
2-2.2 View Menu 4
2-2.3 Project Menu 4
2-2.4 Execute Menu 5
2-2.5 Help Menu 6
2-3 Toolbar 7
2-4 Channel Properties 8
2-5 Chart Controls 10

Data Trending and Archive Data Playback 12

3-1 Introduction 12
3-2 Data Trending 12
3-2.1 Saving Configurations 13
3-2.2 Loading a Configuration 14
3-3 Archive Data Playback 15

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 Introduction

Section 1
Introduction

1-1 Overview
The RTPTrend application graphically plots traces of NetArrays data values. It is capable
of plotting 10 individual traces at one time. Any floating-point, integer, or Boolean
variable value from the Project Tag Database can be plotted on the chart. A variety of
pen colors can be used to identify individual plots when several traces are displayed
simultaneously. Once the display’s inputs, trace colors, scales, and offsets are decided
on, it can be saved as a configuration file that can be opened at another time. RTPTrend
has two distinct modes of operation: it can display real-time data from the target nodes
(Live Data Mode), or it can display archived data recorded by the RTPADA application
(Archive Data Mode).

1-2 This Document

This user guide is divided into three sections. Section 1 introduces the organization of
this document. Use Section 2 to familiarize yourself with RTPTrend’s main window. It
defines the functions performed by the menu options, toolbar buttons, and properties
controls. Section 3 provides examples of how to display live data from a target node and
how to playback archived data.

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Section 2
User Interface

2-1 Main Window

This section of the user guide provides an overview of the user interface presented to the
user by RTPTrend. Whenever you launch the application, the display shown below
appears on your screen. The display is divided into the following main areas:

Menu Bar
Toolbar
Chart
Channel Properties

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2-2 Menu Bar

File
The File menu is used to an open an archive database, access a trend configuration file,
save a trend configuration, or to print the current trend display.

View
The View menu enables or disables the display of the Toolbar and Status Bar in the Main
Window.

Project
The Project menu displays the Trend Properties dialog, which configures the chart’s
colors, Y-axis range, and cursor color.

Execute
The Execute menu is used to start, pause, and stop the trend display.

Help
The Help menu accesses the RTPTrend help file.
2-2.1 File Menu

Open…
This menu item allows you to select an archive database file for display in Archive Data
Mode.

Load Configuration…
This menu item allows you to select a previously saved configuration file, which specifies
the channel inputs and trend properties for Live Data Mode display.

Save Configuration…
This menu item allows you to save the current trend properties and channel inputs, or
any changes made to the current trend configuration.

Save Configuration As…

This menu item allows you to save the current trend properties and channel inputs under
a different file name.

Print…
This menu item opens the Print dialog for printer selection, setup, and printing of the
current trend display.

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Print Preview
This menu item displays a preview of the selected printers output.

Print Setup…
This menu opens a Print Setup dialog for printer selection and printer property
configuration.

Exit
Exits RTPTrend.
2-2.2 View Menu

Toolbar
This menu item enables (checked) or disables (un-checked) display of the Toolbar.

Status Bar
This menu item enables (checked) or disables (un-checked) display of the Status Bar.
2-2.3 Project Menu

Live Data
This option determines the mode of operation. If it is checked, Live Data mode is
selected; if un-checked, Archive Data mode is selected.

Enable Cursor
This option, when checked, enables the display of the vertical cursor. When the cursor is
placed on the chart with a left mouse click, the Channel Properties will display the
channel values and time at the time indicated by the cursor. When the option is un-
checked, the cursor is disabled.

Enable Measure
This option, when checked (in conjunction with enable Cursor), enables the display of the
difference value and time of a trace at 2 specific times. Position the Cursor at the times of
interest, and left mouse click. This works both in Run and Stop/Pause modes.

Properties
This menu item opens the Properties dialog for trend configuration.

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Background Color
The Back Color button selects the background color of the chart display. Clicking
the button opens the standard color dialog.

Grid Color
The Grid Color button selects the color of the horizontal and vertical grid lines on
the chart. Clicking the button opens the standard color dialog.

Cursor Color
The Cursor Color button selects the color of the vertical cursor on the chart.
Clicking the button opens the standard color dialog.

Clear Chart Stamps

This menu item deletes any Value/Time Stamps displayed on the chart.

2-2.4 Execute Menu

Run
This menu item initiates data trending in Live Data mode. In Archive Data mode, it will
start archive data plotting from the Start Time and stop at the End Time.

Pause
This menu item allows you to momentarily pause the Live Data mode trending. Paused
trending is restarted, without loss of data, with the Run menu item or the Run Button.

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Stop
This menu item will stop the data trending or stop archive data plotting if the End Time
has not been reached. Restarting the plotting with the Run menu item or the Run Button
will clear the chart and begin trending at the Start Time.

2-2.5 Help Menu

Help Topics
Accesses the RTPTrend help file.

About RTPTrend…
Displays version and copyright information for RTPTrend.

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2-3 Toolbar

Run Button
The Run button initiates data trending in Live Data mode. In Archive Data mode, it will
start archive data plotting from the Start Time and stop at the End Time.

Pause Button
The Pause button allows you to momentarily pause trending. Paused trending is
restarted, without loss of data, with the Run menu item or the Run Button.

Stop Button
The Stop button will stop the data trending or stop archive data plotting if the End Time
has not been reached. Restarting the plotting with the Run menu item or the Run Button
will clear the chart and begin trending at the Start Time.

Clear Stamps
The Clear Stamps button deletes any Value/Time Stamps displayed on the chart.

Live Button
The Live button determines the mode of operation. If it is selected, Live Data mode is
selected; if un-selected, Archive Data mode is selected.

Cursor Button
The Cursor button enables or disables the display of the vertical cursor. When Enabled
the cursor is placed on the chart, the Channel Properties will display the channel values
at the time indicated by the cursor. When Disabled, the Value field in Channel Properties
show the current value of the variable.

Measure Button
The Measure button enables or disables the display of the difference time and data value
stamps.

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2-4 Channel Properties

Channel
Ten Channel positions are provided for defining ten data points from the database file.
The field also indicates the color of the trace plotted for the Channel. The color may be
changed by clicking on the Color field and selecting another color from the standard color
dialog.

Enable
The checkbox, when checked, enables the plotting of the defined Channel’s data. If un-
checked, the Channel’s data will not be plotted on the chart.

Tag
This field selects the Channel’s input. Pick a tag name from the list of Tags recorded in
the database file, or type the tag name into the field. Entering a tag name checks the
Enable checkbox and enters the associated target name in the Device column. However,
if the tag name is not assigned to any device, the Device filed will remain empty and the
Enable checkbox will remain un-checked. Note that, if the tag name is assigned to more
than one device, the Device field will provide a drop down list for selecting one of the
assigned devices.

Value
This field displays the Channel's current value if the cursor is Disabled. If the cursor is
enabled, this field indicates the value of the Channel where it intersects with the cursor.

Zoom
Entering a value in the Zoom field and then left mouse clicking in on the Zoom value, the
screen vertical range is twice the value of the Zoom field value. Left mouse clicking on a
blank Zoom zone returns the vertical range to YMax and YMin.

Scale
This field applies a scaling factor for the channel Trend values. For example, if the scale
is 10, the plotted amplitude will be 10 times the recorded value; or if the scale is 0.1, the
amplitude will be one-tenth the recorded value. A scale is assigned by typing in a
number followed by a Return.

Offset
This field adds or subtracts an offset for the channel Trend values. Applying an Offset
allows you to control the position of the trace with respect to the Y-axis. For example, an
offset of 50 will raise the trace by 50 units; an offset of –50 will lower the trace by 50
units. An Offset is assigned by typing in a number followed by a Return.

Device
This field indicates the device associated with the tag name entered in the Tag field. If
the tag name is associated with more than one device, you can select one of the devices,
if required, from the list of available devices.

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Min
The number displayed here indicates the lowest value of the Channel’s plot.

Max
The number displayed here indicates the highest value of the Channel’s plot.

Std
This field indicates the standard deviation of all the data plotted for the Channel.

Start Time and End Time

In Live Data mode, the Start Time field indicates the time at which the Run button was
pressed. The End Time field has no function in Live Data mode.

In Archive Data mode, these fields initially indicate the start time and end time of data
recorded in the selected database file. You can shorten the playback time by entering a
later Start Time or an earlier End Time.

YMax
The number displayed here indicates the highest Y-axis co-ordinate on the RTPTrend
display grid. This can be changed either by moving the upper Y-axis scaling arrow with
the mouse pointer, or by typing a number into the field.

YMin
The number displayed here indicates the lowest Y-axis co-ordinate on the RTPTrend
display grid. This can be changed either by moving the lower Y-axis scaling arrow with
the mouse pointer, or by typing a number into the field.

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2-5 Chart Controls

Scaling, scrolling, and cursor controls are located on the chart itself, and are manipulated
using the mouse pointer.

X-Axis Scaling
The X-axis arrows can be used to expand or compress the time axis of the trend. Move
the mouse pointer toward the X-axis arrow. When it changes from a hand to an arrow,
press and hold the left mouse button. Then drag the arrow along the X-axis.

Y-Axis Scaling
The Y-axis arrows can be used to change the YMax and YMin values, altering the range
of values displayed on the chart. Move the mouse pointer toward a Y-axis arrow. When
it changes from a hand to an arrow, press and hold the left mouse button. Then drag the
arrow along the Y-axis.

Scrolling
You can scroll the trend backwards and forwards through time, and up and down the Y-
axis using the mouse pointer. Move the mouse pointer to any place on the chart between
the scaling arrows, and the mouse pointer will change from a hand to a double-pointed
arrow. While holding the left mouse button down, you can move the display in either
direction.

Cursor
To add a cursor to the trend, enable the Cursor in the Properties dialog. Move the mouse
pointer back to the chart and click the left mouse button. The cursor will appear on the

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chart and remain at that time while the chart moves. The Value fields in the Channel
Properties will display the channel values and time where its traces intersect the cursor.
If you click the left mouse button again, the cursor will move to the time where the mouse
pointer is located. You can also press and hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor
to another location on the time axis.

Time and Value Differences

By clicking on the Cursor and Measurement buttons, you can capture differences in Time
and Value between 2 readings on the chart. First select the first value on a trend line by
left mouse clicking. Then select a second value on the trend line by left mouse clicking.
The different in Time and Value will be displayed. The Trend must be Stopped or
Paused for this operation to work.

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Section 3
Data Trending and Archive Data Playback

3-1 Introduction
In Live Data mode, RTPTrend plots data point values from the Project Tag Database.
When trending live data, the Run button clears the chart and initiates trending. The
Pause button may be used to momentarily freeze the display. After pausing, pressing the
Run button continues the trending without missing any data. Pressing the Stop button
ends data playback and enables the channel configuration and File menu functions.

In Archive Data mode, RTPTrend plays back RTPADA archived data point values
recorded in a database file. When playing back RTPADA archive data, the Play button
initiates data plotting from the indicated Start Time and continues until it reaches the End
Time. Pressing the Pause button before the End Time is reached stops the data
playback. Pressing the Play button will then resume plotting. Pressing the Stop button
ends data playback and enables the channel configuration and File menu functions.

3-2 Data Trending

Ensure that the Live Button is selected.

In the Channel 1 Tag field, select (or type in) the tag name of the data point you wish to
plot. This will check the checkbox in the Enable field and enter the target node’s name in
the Device field. Continue adding Tags for consecutive Channels as required. Adjust the
YMax and YMin parameters to accommodate the expected range of values.

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From the Project menu, select Properties. Change the color of the chart’s background,
grid, or cursor if desired. Press OK to close the Properties dialog.

Enable the Cursor by pressing Cursor Button in Toolbar if desired.

Press the Run button to plot the trends.

3-2.1 Saving Configurations

All the configured Project properties and Channel properties may be saved in a
configuration file for retrieval at a later time. (RTPTrend configuration files are identified
by their .trd file name extension.) To save a configuration file, simply select Save
Configuration… from the File menu.

If the configuration has never been saved before, RTPTrend will display the Save As
dialog. Navigate to the directory where you want to save the configuration file, type in a
name for the file, and click on the Save button.

Selecting Save Configuration As… from the File menu will also open the Save As
dialog so that you can rename the configuration file or save it in another directory.

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3-2.2 Loading a Configuration

A previously saved RTPTrend configuration file can be accessed by selecting Load
Configuration… from the File menu. (RTPTrend configuration files are identified by their
.trd file name extension.) Locate and select the configuration file, and then click on the
Open button. This restores all channel field selections and Project Property selections,
and places RTPTrend into Live Data mode.

Saving and Loading a configuration works for both Live and Archive data configurations.

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3-3 Archive Data Playback

Select Open… from the File menu to display the Open dialog for selecting an archive
data database file. (Archive database files are identified by the .db file name extension.)

Select a database file and press Open. Opening an archive data file automatically
places the mode to Archive Data Mode.

In the Channel 1 Tag field, select the tag name of the data point you wish to plot. This
will check the checkbox in the Enable field and determine the device in the Device field.
Continue adding Tags for consecutive Channels as required. Adjust the YMax and YMin
parameters to accommodate the expected range of values. Change the playback time by
entering a later Start Time or an earlier End Time.

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From the Project menu, select Properties. Change the color of the chart’s background,
grid, or cursor if desired. Press OK to close the Properties dialog.

Enable the Cursor by pressing Cursor Button in Toolbar if desired.

Press the Play button to plot the archive data.

With Cursor enabled, left mouse click to place a Cursor mark on the screen. The time
and values are shown in the channel properties window for Value and Time.

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