Copyright: ALDAS 1.0


Main index
 ALDAS Help Index

Getting Started:

System requirements

Configuring NIVXI software

Configuring ALDAS software

Troubleshooting Tips

Commands

File menu

Edit menu

View menu

Message Menu

Window menu

Help menu

Documents

ALDAS Configuration

Collect data document

Noise scan document

Strobe delay scan document

Threshold scan document


System requirements

ALDAS requires a PC running Windows 95 or Windows NT.

In order to take data, a VME crate with a DSP card, a Low-level (strips) card and a hybrid is necessary. The 40 MHz clock for the DSP can be provided either by an external oscillator or by a trigger-control card. Additionally, the MXI-2 interface for the VME crate is required.

ALDAS can be used on PCs lacking the VME hardware to read, view, and print existing data files.


Troubleshooting Tips

If you can not send control blocks, make sure that the DSP has a clock.

If you do not receive data from the hybrid, try changing the duty cycle of the clock.


Configuring the NIVXI software

All DSP cards used in the VME crate must have an entry in the NIVXI VXIEdit. The cards are configured as non-VXI cards. Make sure that the base address corresponds to the jumper setting on the board.

This screen shot shows the Non-VXI Device Configuration Editor configured with 5 DSPs.  The address mode used for the DSPs is A24.  The size of the address space for each DSP is -0x4000 bytes.


Configuring ALDAS

ALDAS configuration files are stored in files with the .ALD extension (eg. ALDAS1.ALD).

All the configuration for ALDAS is done in one of these files.  Open the file ALDAS1.ALD in your favorite text editor.  For example,

This file specifies the hardware configuration.  You should modify this file to match the configuration of hardware you have installed.  When you are finished modifying this file,

save it with a new name.  If you have problems using the new configuration file, you

should revert to the original version.


Collect Data Document

The collect-data document contains the number of hits for each channel for one set of DSP parameters. Each group of 128 channels is displayed in a separate histogram.


DSP

Digital Signal Processor


ALDAS configuration file
ALDAS Configuration

The configuration file contains information about the hardware installed in the VME crate. It includes the path to the DSP system code, the number of DSps, their internal state (Flags and DAC values), and information about Low-level cards and Trigger Control cards. The file is saved on disk with the .ALD extension. The file is formattedin plain text.

The configuration is displayed as a table with each DSP occupying one row. The name of the dsp card is shown on a button in the first column. Clicking this button opens the DSP dialog which allows to change the parameters of the DSP. The second column contains a check mark indicating if the DSP has been initialized or not. A graphical representation of the lower five DIP switches on the DSP board is shown in the third column. These DIP switches determine the base address of the DSP card. The address is obtained by multipying the binary number of the DIP switch with 0x80000. Since the address 0x00000 can not be used, the lowest possible value for the switch is binary 00001, ie only the least significant bit is set.

The name of the system code for the DSP cards is displayed near the bottom of the window.


Strobe Delay Scan

The strobe delay scan document consists of a series of data points taken with calibration pulses enabled. For the proper strobe delay, the efficiency is nearly 100%. It drops to 0% outside the usable range of delays. The two 50% points are determined by a fit to the data for each channel. The result is displayed as “start point” and “end point” in the document.

To toggle between the fit view and the histogram view, use the view menu.


Noise Scan

The noise scan document consists of a series of data points taken without calibration pulses. Hits are due to noise and diminish with larger threshold values. The logarithm of the efficiency for each channel falls linearly when plotted against the square of the threshold voltage. A fit to the data yields two parameters: a slope and an intercept. The result is displayed for each channel in the document.

To toggle between the fit view and the histogram view, use the view menu.


Threshold Scan

The threshold scan document consists of a series of data points taken with calibration pulses enabled. The efficiencies are close to 100% for small threshold values and decrease for larger threshold values. The efficiency for each channel follows an error functionf when plotted against the threshold voltage. A fit to the data yields two parameters: the response (the 50% point) and the sigma of the error function. The result is displayed for each channel in the document.

To toggle between the fit view and the histogram view, use the view menu.


DSP Status Dialog

The dsp dialog displays the state of the DSP card and allows the user to change the DSP parameters.

The flags section shows the current status of the DSP flags. To toggle a flag on or off, check or uncheck the corresponding box. The change will take effect only after the OK button has been clicked.

The DAC section shows the voltages of the 4 digital-to-analog converters on the DSP board. The voltages displayed are calculated by assuming a DAC range of 2.5V for 4096 counts. No factors for voltage dividers are applied.

Note: The threshold voltages for each link are set by DACs on the Low-level card.

The buttons labeled “LL Card” and “TCC Card” bring up additional dialog boxes for these cards.


Low-level Card Dialog

The low-level card dialog box shows the status of the LL card and allows to change its parameters.

The FIFO section lists the file names of the control blocks which are loaded into the DSP memory. To load another control block, click the “load” button and select a file from the “Open File” dialog. Control blocks are stored with the .cb extension in the cb directory.

To execute a control block, click the “Execute” button.

The threshold voltages for each link are displayed in the DAC section. The voltages displayed are calculated by assuming a DAC range of 2.5V for 4096 counts. No factors for voltage dividers are applied.

The strobe delay and the counter value are displayed in the parameter section. To change a value, type in the new value and click OK.

The hybrid section contains two buttons for the hybrid property dialogs.


Hybrid Dialog

The hybrid dialog contains information about the hybrid and the detectors connected to it.

The number of channels is a multiple of 128 and depends on the number of chips bonded to the hybrid. The name identifies the detector and is saved in the data files.


File menu commands

The File menu offers the following commands:

New	Creates a new document.
Open	Opens an existing document.
Close	Closes an opened document.
Save	Saves an opened document using the same file name.
Save As	Saves an opened document to a specified file name.
Print	Prints a document.
Print Preview	Displays the document on the screen as it would appear printed.
Print Setup	Selects a printer and printer connection.
Exit	Exits ALDAS.


Edit menu commands

The Edit menu offers the following commands:

Heading	Edit the heading of the document.


Set Heading

The set heading command allows to change the heading for the current document.


Message Menu

The message menu offers the following gcommands:

Show All Messages

Show Error Messages

Never Show Messages

Send Message

Get Message


View menu commands

The View menu offers the following commands:

Toolbar	Shows or hides the toolbar.
Status Bar	Shows or hides the status bar.
Fit View HID_LINE_FIT_VIEW	Shows the fit result versus the channel number.
Histogram View HID_HISTOGRAM_VIEW	Shows or hides the status bar.


Fit View

The fit view displays the result of a fit to the data for each channel. Each fit parameter is shown on a separate page.


Histogram View

The histogram view displays a histogram of fit results to the data. Each fit parameter is shown in a separate histogram.


Window menu commands

The Window menu offers the following commands, which enable you to arrange multiple views of multiple documents in the application window:

Cascade	Arranges windows in an overlapped fashion.
Tile	Arranges windows in non-overlapped tiles.
Arrange Icons	Arranges icons of closed windows.


Help menu commands

The Help menu offers the following commands, which provide you assistance with this application:

Help Topics	Offers you an index to topics on which you can get help.
About	Displays the version number of this application.


File New command
New command (File menu)

Use this command to create a new document in ALDAS.  Select the type of new file you want to create in the File New dialog box.

You can open an existing document with the Open command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+N


File New dialog box

Specify the type of document you wish to create:

Collect Data

Noise scan

Strobe delay scan

Threshold scan


File Open command
Open command (File menu)

Use this command to open an existing document in a new window.  You can open multiple documents at once.  Use the Window menu to switch among the multiple open documents.  See Window 1, 2, ... command.

You can create new documents with the New command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+O


File Open dialog box

The following options allow you to specify which file to open:

File Name

Type or select the filename you want to open.  This box lists files with the extension you select in the List Files of Type box.

List Files of Type

Select the type of file you want to open:

Collect data document

Noise scan document

Strobe delay scan document

Threshold scan document

Drives

Select the drive in which ALDAS stores the file that you want to open.

Directories

Select the directory in which ALDAS stores the file that you want to open.

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter.


File Close command
Close command (File menu)

Use this command to close all windows containing the active document.  ALDAS suggests that you save changes to your document before you close it.  If you close a document without saving, you lose all changes made since the last time you saved it.  Before closing an untitled document, ALDAS displays the Save As dialog box and suggests that you name and save the document.

You can also close a document by using the Close icon on the document's window, as shown below:


File Save command
Save command (File menu)

Use this command to save the active document to its current name and directory.  When you save a document for the first time, ALDAS displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your document.  If you want to change the name and directory of an existing document before you save it, choose the Save As command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+S


File Save As command
Save As command (File menu)

Use this command to save and name the active document.  ALDAS displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your document.

To save a document with its existing name and directory, use the Save command.


File Save As dialog box

The following options allow you to specify the name and location of the file you're about to save:

File Name

Type a new filename to save a document with a different name.  A filename can contain up to eight characters and an extension of up to three characters.  ALDAS adds the extension you specify in the Save File As Type box.

Drives

Select the drive in which you want to store the document.

Directories

Select the directory in which you want to store the document.

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter.

<< Add other File Save As dialog box options depending on which ones your application chooses via the OFN_ flags of the OPENFILENAME structure used by the CFileDialog. >>


File 1, 2, 3, 4 command
1, 2, 3, 4 command (File menu)

Use the numbers and filenames listed at the bottom of the File menu to open the last four documents you closed.  Choose the number that corresponds with the document you want to open.


File Exit command
Exit command (File menu)

Use this command to end your ALDAS session.  You can also use the Close command on the application Control menu.  ALDAS prompts you to save documents with unsaved changes.

Shortcuts

Mouse:	Double-click the application's Control menu button.

Keys:	ALT+F4


Show all Messages

Use this command to display all messages sent between the DSP and the host computer.


Show only error Messages

Use this command to display only error messages sent by a DSP.  This is a useful

diagnostics tool whenever you have a problem with the DSP.


Never Show Messages

Use this command if you want to disable the display of messages completely.  When this

menu item is checked, error messages will never be displayed.


Send Message

Use this command to send a single message to a specified DSP.  When you select this menu item, the “send Message” dialog will open. Type the command code for the message you want to send, and the parameters for that message. Hit OK to have the message sent.  This command is another useful diagnostics tool.

Note: Messages new to ALDAS can not be sent because their length is unknown.


Get Message

Use this command if the DSP is trying to send a message, but the program is not receiving it.  This command will do nothing unless there is a message waiting to be sent.


View Toolbar command
Toolbar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Toolbar, which includes buttons for some of the most common commands in ALDAS, such as File Open.  A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Toolbar is displayed.

See Toolbar for help on using the toolbar.


Toolbar

The toolbar is displayed across the top of the application window, below the menu bar.  The toolbar provides quick mouse access to many tools used in ALDAS,

To hide or display the Toolbar, choose Toolbar from the View menu (ALT, V, T).

<< Add or remove toolbar buttons from the list below according to which ones your application offers. >>

Click	To

Create a new document.

Open an existing document.  ALDAS displays the Open dialog box, in which you can locate and open the desired file.

Save the active document or template with its current name.  If you have not named the document, ALDAS displays the Save As dialog box.

Print the active document.

Execute a control block on the specified

DSP and link and transfer data from the DSP.


View Status Bar Command
Status Bar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Status Bar, which describes the action to be executed by the selected menu item or depressed toolbar button, and keyboard latch state. A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Status Bar is displayed.

See Status Bar for help on using the status bar.


Status Bar

The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the ALDAS window.  To display or hide the status bar, use the Status Bar command in the View menu.

The left area of the status bar describes actions of menu items as you use the arrow keys to navigate through menus.  This area similarly shows messages that describe the actions of toolbar buttons as you depress them, before releasing them.  If after viewing the description of the toolbar button command you wish not to execute the command, then release the mouse button while the pointer is off the toolbar button.

The right areas of the status bar indicate which of the following keys are latched down:

Indicator	Description

CAP	The Caps Lock key is latched down.

NUM	The Num Lock key is latched down.

SCRL	The Scroll Lock key is latched down.


Cascade command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows in an overlapped fashion.


Tile command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows in a non-overlapped fashion.


Tile Horizontal command (Window menu)

Use this command to vertically arrange multiple opened windows in a non-overlapped fashion.


Tile Vertical command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows side by side.


Window Arrange Icons Command

Use this command to arrange the icons for minimized windows at the bottom of the main window.  If there is an open document window at the bottom of the main window, then some or all of the icons may not be visible because they will be underneath this document window.


1, 2, ... command (Window menu)

ALDAS displays a list of currently open document windows at the bottom of the Window menu.  A check mark appears in front of the document name of the active window.  Choose a document from this list to make its window active.


Index command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the opening screen of Help.  From the opening screen, you can jump to step-by-step instructions for using ALDAS and various types of reference information.

Once you open Help, you can click the Contents button whenever you want to return to the opening screen.


Using Help command (Help menu)

Use this command for instructions about using Help.


About command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the copyright notice and version number of your copy of ALDAS.


Help Using Help Command
Context Help command

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of ALDAS.  When you choose the Toolbar's Context Help button, the mouse pointer will change to an arrow and question mark.  Then click somewhere in the ALDAS window, such as another Toolbar button.  The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+F1


Title Bar

<< Show your application's title bar here. >>

The title bar is located along the top of a window.  It contains the name of the application and document.

To move the window, drag the title bar.  Note: You can also move dialog boxes by dragging their title bars.


Scroll bars

Displayed at the right and bottom edges of the document window.  The scroll boxes inside the scroll bars indicate your vertical and horizontal location in the document.  You can use the mouse to scroll to other parts of the document.


Size command (System menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can size the active window with the arrow keys.

After the pointer changes to the four-headed arrow:

1.	Press one of the DIRECTION keys (left, right, up, or down arrow key) to move the pointer to the border you want to move.

2.	Press a DIRECTION key to move the border.

3.	Press ENTER when the window is the size you want.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Drag the size bars at the corners or edges of the window.


Move command (Control menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can move the active window or dialog box with the arrow keys.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F7


System Minimize Command
Minimize command (application Control menu)

Use this command to reduce the ALDAS window to an icon.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the minimize icon [image] on the title bar.

Keys:	ALT+F9


Maximize command (System menu)

Use this command to enlarge the active window to fill the available space.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the maximize icon [image] on the title bar; or double-click the title bar.

Keys:	CTRL+F10 enlarges a document window.


Next Window command (document Control menu)

Use this command to switch to the next open document window.  ALDAS determines which window is next according to the order in which you opened the windows.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F6


Previous Window command (document Control menu)

Use this command to switch to the previous open document window.  ALDAS determines which window is previous according to the order in which you opened the windows.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+CTRL+F6


Close command (Control menus)

Use this command to close the active window or dialog box.

Double-clicking a Control-menu box is the same as choosing the Close command.

Note:  If you have multiple windows open for a single document, the Close command on the document Control menu closes only one window at a time.  You can close all windows at once with the Close command on the File menu.

Shortcuts

Keys: 	CTRL+F4 closes a document window

ALT+F4 closes the <<YourType>> window or dialog box


Restore command (Control menu)

Use this command to return the active window to its size and position before you chose the Maximize or Minimize command.


Switch to command (application Control menu)

Use this command to display a list of all open applications.  Use this "Task List" to switch to or close an application on the list.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+ESC

Dialog Box Options

When you choose the Switch To command, you will be presented with a dialog box with the following options:

Task List

Select the application you want to switch to or close.

Switch To

Makes the selected application active.

End Task

Closes the selected application.

Cancel

Closes the Task List box.

Cascade

Arranges open applications so they overlap and you can see each title bar.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Tile

Arranges open applications into windows that do not overlap.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Arrange Icons

Arranges the icons of all minimized applications across the bottom of the screen.


No Help Available

No help is available for this area of the window.


No Help Available

No help is available for this message box.

<< If you wish to author help specific to each message box prompt, then remove the AFX_HIDP_xxx values from the [ALIAS] section of your .HPJ file, and author a topic for each AFX_HIDP_xxx value.  For example, AFX_HIDP_INVALID_FILENAME is the help topic for the Invalid Filename message box. >>


File Print command
Print command (File menu)

Use this command to print a document.   This command presents a Print dialog box, where you may specify the range of pages to be printed, the number of copies, the destination printer, and other printer setup options.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+P


Print dialog box

The following options allow you to specify how the document should be printed:

Printer

This is the active printer and printer connection.  Choose the Setup option to change the printer and printer connection.

Setup

Displays a Print Setup dialog box, so  you can select a printer and printer connection.

Print Range

Specify the pages you want to print:

All	Prints the entire document.
Selection	Prints the currently selected text.
Pages	Prints the range of pages you specify in the From and To boxes.
Copies

Specify the number of copies you want to print for the above page range.

Collate Copies

Prints copies in page number order, instead of separated multiple copies of each page.

Print Quality

Select the quality of the printing.  Generally, lower quality printing takes less time to produce.


Print Progress Dialog

The Printing dialog box is shown during the time that <<YourApp>> is sending output to the printer.  The page number indicates the progress of the printing.

To abort printing, choose Cancel.


File Print Preview command
Print Preview command (File menu)

Use this command to display the active document as it would appear when printed.  When you choose this command, the main window will be replaced with a print preview window in which one or two pages will be displayed in their printed format.  The print preview toolbar offers you options to view either one or two pages at a time; move back and forth through the document; zoom in and out of pages; and initiate a print job.


Print Preview toolbar

The print preview toolbar offers you the following options:

Print

Bring up the print dialog box, to start a print job.

Next Page

Preview the next printed page.

Prev Page

Preview the previous printed page.

One Page / Two Page

Preview one or two printed pages at a time.

Zoom In

Take a closer look at the printed page.

Zoom Out

Take a larger look at the printed page.

Close

Return from print preview to the editing window.


File Print Setup command
Print Setup command (File menu)

Use this command to select a printer and a printer connection.  This command presents a Print Setup dialog box, where you specify the printer and its connection.


Print Setup dialog box

The following options allow you to select the destination printer and its connection.

Printer

Select the printer you want to use.  Choose the Default Printer; or choose the Specific Printer option and select one of the current installed printers shown in the box.  You install printers and configure ports using the Windows Control Panel.

Orientation

Choose Portrait or Landscape.

Paper Size

Select the size of paper that the document is to be printed on.

Paper Source

Some printers offer multiple trays for different paper sources.  Specify the tray here.

Options

Displays a dialog box where you can make additional choices about printing, specific to the type of printer you have selected.

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter.


File Page Setup Command
Page Setup command (File menu)

<< Write application-specific help here. >>