33​File Management

The FieldFox can save any of the following types of files:

—​Current settings and calibration

—​Trace data (*.csv, *.S1P, *.S2P)

—​Picture of the FieldFox screen

In addition, files can be saved to the internal memory, a USB Flash drive, or a standard SD card.

In this Chapter

Saving and Recalling Files

The FieldFox model families are:

—​N991x & N995x (VNA/SA) model family

—​N993x & N996x (SA) model family

Save Files

How to Save a File

1.​Press Save/Recall 9

2.​Then Save

3.​At the top of the current ‘labeler’ screen (see following image) check the File Type to save and Device (Internal, USB, Storage Card) to which the file is saved. Learn how to change these settings in “Set File Type and Select Device” on page 919.

4.​Then use the labeler to specify a filename.

Saving MATLAB files

Figure 33-1 ​I/Q Analyzer Mode (IQA) MATLAB File Save

Figure 33-2 ​VSA Software MATLAB File Save

The FieldFox labeler is used to edit or change the current filename. It is also used for many other labeling functions, such as creating a title, prefix, and keyword to display on the FieldFox screen. Learn about Titles in “How to Manage files” on page 922.

—​Move the cursor (see section below, How to move the cursor), then press Select to add the cursor character to the end of the existing filename.

—​Back Space to erase the last character(s) from the end of a filename.

—​Press Shift to toggle keyboard between lower case and upper case characters.

—​Press Alt Keyboards to display the different keyword choices.

The preselected keywords (File, Site, and so forth) can be selected just like a single character. These keywords can also be edited. Learn more in “Edit Keywords” on page 939.

Figure 33-3 ​The FieldFox labeler

In the graphic above, the current filename is File_0 2. The file will be saved to INTERNAL.

How to move the cursor

—​Use the rotary knob to move cursor on the same row. The cursor will change rows when it comes to a row end.

—​Use the arrows to move the cursor up and down the rows.

When the current filename is complete

—​Press Done to save the file to the specified filename.

—​Press Cancel to close the labeler without saving a file.

—​If the filename already exists, you are prompted to choose from the following:

—​Press Yes to overwrite the existing file.

—​Press Cancel to return to edit the filename.

Recall Files

The FieldFox can recall State files, Trace + State files, and image files.

State Files

ALL FieldFox instrument settings for ALL Modes are saved and recalled in a *.sta file. If error correction is ON in CAT or NA Mode, then calibration data is also saved and recalled.

If error correction is OFF (CalRdy is active), calibration data is NOT saved in the *.sta file. When a Trace + State file is recalled on a FieldFox other than the one it was saved on, differences in the CalRdy calibration data may result in differences between the displayed traces.

Image Files

The FieldFox can open and display *.png, *.jpg, and *.jpeg images.

How to Recall a File

1.​Press Save/Recall 9 

2.​Then Recall File or Enter

3.​Navigate to the file to be recalled using the Up/Down arrow keys .

—​Optional: Sort by Name to list the current files by name.

—​Optional: Sort by Date to list the current files by date.

—​Optional: Next Page if available, to go to the next page of filenames.

—​Optional: Previous Page if available, to go to the previous page of filenames.

4.​Then Recall File or Enter.

5.​ Cancel to cancel recall file and return to the previous menu.

Move (Copy) Files

The FieldFox can Move files (i.e., including Trace + State files, and image files).

How to move a file

1.​Press Save/Recall 9

2.​Then Device to be copied from (i.e., Internal, SD, or USB). Refer to “Set File Type and Select Device” on page 919.

3.​Then More > Manage Files >  Select Files  

4.​Navigate to the file(s) to be copied using the Up/Down arrow keys or the knob.

5.​Then Copy 

—​Select the destination device using the softkeys:

—​Copy to Internal Copies to FieldFox’s internal memory.

—​Copy to USB Copies to a USB memory device.

—​Copy to SD Card Copies to a SD/SDHC memory card.

—​Cancel to cancel copy file and return to the previous menu

6.​Use the close folder icon or the open folder icon to locate the target folder for your files.

7.​Then Do Copy copies files to selected location and FieldFox displays a confirmation message of a successful file copy.

8.​Cancel to cancel copy file and return to the previous menu.

Set File Type and Select Device

The following File TYPE and DEVICE settings are used to determine the type of file to save, and the location to be used for all file operations.

These two settings remain through an instrument preset, but are reset to the default values when the FieldFox power is shutdown.

Select Device (location of File Save/Recall)

—​Press Save/Recall 9

—​Then Device to set the LOCATION where the file is to be saved, recalled, or moved. Choose from the following:

—​ Internal Saves/Recalls/Moves (Copies) files to/from the FieldFox internal memory. To specify a folder, first select Manage Folders (learn how in “Manage Folders” on page 932). The Data Link software will read data ONLY from the \UserData folder.

—​SD Card Saves/Recalls/Moves (Copies) files to/from the SD card (not included), inserted in the card slot. See “Take the FieldFox Tour” on page 44. Only the root folder is available.

—​USB Saves/Recalls/Moves (Copies) files to or from a USB Flash drive (not included) that is inserted in one of the USB connectors. Only the root folder is available.

How to set File Type

—​Press Save/Recall 9

—​Then File Type. Choose one of the following:

—​ State Saves ALL FieldFox instrument settings for ALL Modes to a *.sta file. If a calibration is ON in CAT or NA Mode, calibration data is also saved. This file can be opened ONLY by a FieldFox. State files can be saved between compatible FieldFox models. See note in.“Saving and Recalling Files” on page 914.

—​Trace+State Saves the current trace and instrument settings to a *.sta file. In SA Mode, all traces are saved. This file can be opened ONLY by a FieldFox. When recalled, the FieldFox sweep is set to Hold.

—​Picture (PNG) Saves a 640 x 453 pixel image of the FieldFox screen to a *.png file. The picture does NOT include the softkeys.

—​Data (csv) Saves trace data from the current Mode to a *.csv file. This format can be imported into spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel. Column A is always the frequency at which the data is measured.

——In SA Mode, all visible data traces are saved. Each trace is saved to a separate column that is labeled with the Trace State.

——In CAT and NA Modes, only the data trace is saved – not the memory trace.

——In Power Meter (with Option 208 Frequency Offset Power Sensor (FOPS)), all visible traces are saved. Each trace is saved to a separate column labeled Output Power or Memory.

——In VVM Mode, NO data is saved.

—​Group Saves a group of file types that have been selected in the Preferences menu. Learn more, see “Group Save File Types Editing” on page 880.

—​Data (S1P) / (S2P) Saves CAT and NA Mode trace data to an *.S1P or *.S2P file, depending on the active measurement. This file format is used by CAE programs such as Keysight's Microwave Design System (MDS) and Advanced Design System (ADS). It can also be imported into spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel.

About SNP Files

The SNP file includes header information, and the following data:

—​S1P - saves 1-port (receiver) data for the active data trace. *.s1p Files contain 1 stimulus value and 1 S-parameter (total of 3 scalar values) Stim Real(Sxx) Imag(Sxx)

—​S2P (NA Mode ONLY) - saves 2-port data for the active trace. *.s2p Files contain 1 stimulus value and 4 S-parameters (total of 9 scalar values) Stim Real(S11) Imag(S11) Real(S21) Imag(S21) Real(S12) Imag(S12) Real(S22) Imag(S22)

—​Only data traces are saved – not memory traces.

Corrections

—​When parameters are corrected, data is returned even when not displayed. Data is returned with the correction type that is applied for each S-parameter. The correction type for each S-parameter is annotated in the header.

—​When parameters are NOT corrected or displayed:

—​With Smith chart and Polar formats, Real/Imag zero-filled data appears as (1.0, 0.0).

—​With all other formats, LogMag/Phase zero-filled data appears as (0.0, 0.0).

> Display formats

In CAT Mode, S1P files are always Magnitude (dB) / Phase (angle) format.

In NA Mode:

—​Smith chart and Polar display formats are ALWAYS saved in Real/Imag data pairs.

—​All other display formats are saved in LogMag/Phase (dbAngle).

> What Data Processing functions are included in saved SNP Data:

In NA Mode, the data processing functions (such as trace math) that are included in the SNP data depends on a Preference setting. Click System, then Preferences, then Preferences, then scroll to NA, SNP File Save, then select from the following:

—​Default – SNP data does NOT include smoothing. SNP data saves are taken AFTER data processing (location 2) on the processing chain.

—​Advanced – SNP data includes the following:

—​With Smith or Polar display format, SNP data saves are taken BEFORE most processing (location 1 on the data processing chain).

—​With any other display format, SNP data saves are taken just AFTER Formatting and Smoothing is applied (location 3 on the data processing chain). For each non-active trace, SNP trace data is reprocessed using the data processing chain of the active trace.

See the FieldFox data processing chain at the Supplemental Online Help: https://rfmw.em.keysight.com/wireless/helpfiles/FieldFoxOnlineSupplementalHelp/Home.htm. Learn more about System Preferences in “Preferences” on page 870.

Manage Files

Files that are stored in the FieldFox internal memory, standard SD card, and USB Flash drive, can be copied to another device or deleted.

IQ Recording Files

IQ Recording files are stored in the IQRecording folder and use the VITA49A file format (.vita49). Recording folders may also contain a SessionInfo.txt file with recording metadata. IQ Recording files and folders can be copied, moved, renamed, or deleted using the standard File Management functions.

How to Manage files

1.​Press Save/Recall 9

2.​Then Device to select the location (Internal, USB, standard SD Card, or CD Drive) of the file to copy or delete. 

3.​Then More > Manage Files

4.​Highlight a file to manage. Then choose from the following:

—​File ...  Navigate to file menu.

—​New Folder A new folder is created in the current folder. Refer to “How to use the FieldFox labeler ” on page 916 for folder/filename edit.

——Cancel To close the labeler without saving a folder.

——Done To save the new folder in the current folder.

—​Sort 

——Sort by Name Sorts the displayed list of files by name in alphabetical (A-Z) and numerically (0-9) order. Pressing again reverses the oder Z-A and 9-0.

——Sort by Date Sorts the displayed list of files by date, from oldest to newest. Pressing again reverses the oder, switching to newest to oldest.

—​Copy To copy selected file(s) to a selected device.

——Copy to Internal Copy the selected file to Internal device.

——Copy to USB (must be inserted) Copy the selected file to USB device.

——Copy to SD Card (must be inserted) Copy the selected file to SD Card.

——Then select a destination folder from the screen that displays the folder tree of the selected device.

——Do Copy To complete the file copy to the selected media/folder.

—— Yes Complete the file copy.

—— No Skip the file copy.

—— Cancel Skip and cancel entire Copy operation if more than 1 file is being copied.

——Collapse To minimize or hide highlighted sections of content to keep workspace organized and reduce clutter.

—​Delete To delete the selected file(s).

—— Yes Complete deleting the selected file.

—— No Skip deleting the selected file.

—— Cancel To cancel Delete operation and return to previous menu.

—​More

——Show Files as List or Show Files as Tiles (depending on the currently show files viewing mode)  This toggle button switches between List view and Tiles view, allowing to display files either as a list with their names and dates or as visual tiles with their names. Refer to Figure 33-7 on page 929 and Figure 33-8 on page 930 for more details.

——Rename Displays a keyboard and text entry field. Enter the filename string to be replaced. Refer to Figure 33-9 on page 931 and Figure 33-10 on page 932 for more details.

—— Select Select.

—— Back Space Backspace.

—— Shift Shift.

—— Keywords Keywords.

—— Cancel Skip and cancel file rename operation.

—— Done Complete the file rename operation.

—​Set As User Folder Using the folder where the current selected file is located to set it as the user folder.

—​Select or Deselect (depending on the highlighted file’s selected stage) Button only visible when a file is highlighted. A toggle button that will select or deselect the current highlighted file. Refer to 

—​Select All | Deselect All A toggle button that will select (check) or deselect (uncheck) all files in the current folder.

—​Expand All | Collapse All A toggle button that will expand or collapse all folders recursively.

—​Clear Selections To clear (uncheck) all selected (checked) files anywhere in the all directory, recursively.

Figure 33-4 ​Manage Files - Select File

Figure 33-5 ​Manage Files - Delete

Figure 33-6 ​Manage Files - Delete File

Figure 33-7 ​Manage Files - File as List Mode

Figure 33-8 ​Manage Files - File as Tiles

Figure 33-9 ​Manage Files - Rename

Figure 33-10 ​Manage Files - Filename Rename Entry

Manage Folders

You can create new folders, delete old folders, and select the active folder to which files can be saved. The Parent folder [..] is listed when not in the root directory.

Creating and Managing Folders

1.​Press Save/Recall 9

2.​Then Device to select the location (Internal, USB, standard SD Card, or CD Drive) of the folder to copy or delete. 

3.​Then More > Manage Files

4.​Highlight a folder to manage. Then choose from the following:

—​File ...  Navigate to file menu

—​New Folder A new folder is created in the current folder. Refer to “How to use the FieldFox labeler ” on page 916 for folder/filename edit.

——Cancel To close the labeler without saving a new folder.

——Done To save the new folder in the current folder.

—​Sort 

——Sort by Name Sorts the files in the selected folder by name in alphabetical (A-Z) and numerically (0-9) order. Pressing again reverses the oder Z-A and 9-0.

——Sort by Date Sorts the files in the selected folder by date, from oldest to newest. Pressing again reverses the oder, switching to newest to oldest.

—​Copy To copy selected folder to a selected device. Select a device to copy the file to from the following:

——Copy to Internal Copy the highlighted folder to Internal device.

——Copy to USB (must be inserted) Copy the highlighted folder to USB device.

——Copy to SD Card (must be inserted) Copy the highlighted folder to SD Card.

——A new screen will appear displaying the folder tree of the selected device. Select the destination folder where the target folder will be copied. 

——Do Copy To complete the folder copy to the selected media/folder.

—— Yes Complete the folder copy.

—— No Skip the folder copy.

—— Cancel Skip and cancel copy operation.

——Collapse or Expand (depending on the selected folder stage) A toggle button that will collapse or expand the current selected folder (non-recursive).

—​Delete To delete the selected folder.

—— Yes Complete deleting the selected folder.

—— No Skip deleting the selected folder.

—— Cancel To cancel delete operation and return to previous menu.

—​More

——Show Files as List or Show Files as Tiles (depending on the currently show files viewing mode)  This toggle button switches between List view and Tiles view, allowing to display files either as a list with their names and dates or as visual tiles with their names. Refer to Figure 33-7 on page 929 and Figure 33-8 on page 930 for more details.

——Rename Displays a keyboard and text entry field. Enter the folder name string to be replaced. Refer to Figure 33-11 on page 936 and Figure 33-12 on page 937 for more details.

—— Select Select.

—— Back Space Backspace.

—— Shift Shift.

—— Keywords Keywords.

—— Cancel Skip and cancel folder rename operation.

—— Done Complete the folder rename operation.

—​Set As User Folder Using the folder where the current selected file is located to set it as the user folder.

—​Expand or Collapse (depending on the highlighted folder’s expanded stage) Button only visible when a folder is highlighted. A toggle button that will expand or collapse the current highlighted folder. Refer to Figure 33-14 on page 939 for more details.

—​Select All | Deselect All A toggle button that will select (check) or deselect (uncheck) all files in the current folder.

—​Expand All | Collapse All A toggle button that will expand or collapse all folders recursively.

—​Clear Selections To clear (uncheck) highlighted folder and all selected (checked) files and anywhere in the all directory, recursively.

Figure 33-11 ​Manage Folder - Rename

Figure 33-12 ​Manage Folder - Rename Folder Entry

Figure 33-13 ​Manage Folder - Rename [INTERNAL]

Figure 33-14 ​Manage Folder - Expand or Collapse

Edit Keywords

The preselected keywords (FILE, SITE, and so forth) can be edited to meet your specific needs. Your keywords will remain in the FieldFox until you change them. Keywords are limited to 30 characters.

How to edit keywords

1.​Press Save/Recall 9 > More > Edit Keywords

2.​Then Next Page and Previous Page to view all keywords.

—​Use the arrows to select a keyword to edit.

—​When a keyword is selected, then press Edit.

—​Then choose from the following:

—​Press Select to add the cursor character to the end of the selected keyword.

—​Press Backspace to erase the last character from the end of the selected keyword.

—​Press Shift to change from upper-case to lower-case and vice versa.

—​Press Alt Keywords to toggle through different keyword choices.

How to move the cursor:

—​Use the rotary knob to move the cursor along the same row. The cursor will change rows when it comes to a row end.

—​Use the arrows to move the cursor up and down between rows.

When the selected keyword is complete:

—​Press Done to save all keywords and close the Edit Keywords labeler. These keywords will exist on the FieldFox until changed.

—​Press Cancel to close the labeler without saving changes.

Prefixes and Suffixes for Filenames

The prefix and suffix (Auto Append) can be used together to organize files. Once set and enabled, they are automatically entered as the beginning (Prefix) and end (Suffix - using Auto Append) of a filename when performing a Save operation. These settings are persistent, until disabled. Refer to “How to edit the Prefix and Suffix (Auto Append)” on page 940 and “How to enable/disable Auto Append (Number and Date)” on page 942.

This section contains the following sections:

—​“How to edit the Prefix and Suffix (Auto Append)” on page 940.

—​“How to move the cursor” on page 917.

—​“When the Prefix is complete” on page 942.

—​“How to enable/disable Auto Append (Number and Date)” on page 942.

How to edit the Prefix and Suffix (Auto Append)

If you want to edit a prefix on a finite set of files one time, refer to “Manage Files” on page 922.

—​Press Save/Recall 9 > More > Prefix Suffix

—​Auto Append (Suffix)

—​OFF (default) to disable Auto Append.

—​Number to auto-append a number using format “nnnn” sequentially to all saved files (default).

—​Date to auto-append a date and time using format “YYYY-MM-DD.HH.MM.SS” sequentially to all saved files.

—​Prefix/Suffix 

—​ OFF (default) to disable the prefix/suffix. The Edit Prefix, Edit Number, and Edit Suffix softkeys are grayed out (inactive). Refer to “How to enable/disable the Prefix/Suffix (persistent)” on page 942.

—​Last File to use the last filename saved, as your filename for subsequent saved filenames. The Edit Prefix, Auto Append, Edit Number, and Edit Suffix softkeys are grayed out (inactive).

—​User to use the user-selected prefix. All softkeys are active, unless Auto Append is disabled, then Edit Number Suffix is grayed out (inactive). Learn more, see “How to enable/disable the Prefix/Suffix (persistent)” on page 942 and “How to enable/disable Auto Append (Number and Date)” on page 942.

—​Edit Prefix – the last Prefix used in saving a file is displayed (default == CustomPre).

Couplings: For the softkey to be active, Prefix/Suffix == MyFilePrefix.

—​Then choose from the following:

——Select to add the cursor character to the end of the Prefix.

——Back Space to delete the last character(s) from the end of the prefix.

——Shift to toggle between capital letters and lower case letters.

——Alt Keywords to display the different preselected keywords (File, Site, and so forth) can be selected just like a single character. These keywords can also be edited. See Edit Keywords.

——Cancel to cancel edits and return to the previous menu.

—— Done to save changes and return to previous softkey menu.

—​Edit Number Suffix – Sets the Auto Append number suffix formatting (e.g., “0001”).

Couplings: Auto Append must be set to “Number”. This softkey is inactive (grayed out) when Auto Append == Date.

—​Edit Suffix to edit the suffix using the labeler. For more information on the Edit Suffix softkey menu refer to the Edit Prefix softkey menu descriptions above. (Default == UserSuffix).

Couplings: For this softkey to be active, the Prefix/Suffix softkey must be set to “User”. Learn more, see “Preferences” on page 870 and to “File Saving Naming Options” on page 879.

—​ Back to return to the previous menu.

How to move the cursor

—​Use the rotary knob to move cursor on the same row.

—​Use the arrows to move the cursor up and down the rows.

When the Prefix is complete

—​Press Done to save the Prefix and close the labeler. This Prefix will exist on the FieldFox until it is changed.

—​Press Cancel to close the labeler without saving changes.

When the Suffix is complete

—​Press Done Edit to save the Suffix and close the labeler. This Suffix will exist on the FieldFox until it is changed (i.e., with subsequent increments).

—​Press Cancel to close the labeler without saving changes.

How to enable/disable the Prefix/Suffix (persistent)

1.​Press Save/Recall 9 > More > Prefix Suffix

2.​Then Prefix/Suffix 

—​OFF (default) to disable the prefix and suffix on subsequently saved files. Edit Prefix and Edit Suffix softkeys are grayed out (inactive).

How to enable/disable Auto Append (Number and Date)

1.​Press Save/Recall 9 > More > Prefix Suffix

2.​Then Auto Append

—​OFF (default) to disable the Auto Append (number suffix) on subsequently saved files. The Edit Number Suffix softkey is grayed out (inactive).

Press Printing

The current screen or selected files can be printed using a PCL-compatible printer (like older HP Deskjet printer) connected to one of the FieldFox USB ports. Newer PCL3GUI photo and all-in-one printers are NOT supported.

Measurements can also be printed using the FieldFox Data Link software.

How to print the current screen or a saved file

To save ink, first select an outdoor (white background) display color. Learn how in “Display Colors” on page 860.

1.​Connect the printer to a FieldFox USB port. The print softkey will appear ONLY when a compatible printer is connected.

2.​Then press Save/Recall 9

3.​Then Print and choose from the following:

—​Printer & Page\nSetup - Confirm that the printer is connected and configured properly. The Status line should read “Ready’.

4.​Make other print settings as desired.

a.​Select Files\nfor Printing - Print up to 16 *.PNG images on one page that are stored on the Internal drive. Images can NOT be printed from the USB and SD card.

b.​Edit the Quick Settings table to select up to FOUR Rows and FOUR Columns for up to 16 total images to be printed on a single page.

c.​If necessary, edit the filenames to be printed.

d.​Select Done. Then Print Selected\nFiles to begin printing.

—​Print Current Screen – Immediately prints the FieldFox screen using the selected Printer and Page Setup settings.