Acquisition Controls

Instrument
DCA-X
N109X
Flex Apps:
FlexDCA
Related Topics

Introduction

Virtual Front Panel

When controlling an DCA-X from a PC, you may find it more convenient to use the Virtual Front Panel, as you may not have access to the DCA-X's front-panel keys. Click Tools > Virtual Front Panel.

The acquisition buttons allow you to start and stop data acquisition and perform an Auto Scale. These controls affect all channels that are turned on. If all the channels are turned off or a trigger event does not occur, data will not be acquired. These buttons are located on the menu bar.

Acquisition Buttons
Button Description Keyboard
Shortcuts
Press Run Stop to toggle FlexDCA's waveform acquisition mode between Run and Stop. In Run mode, data is continuously acquired on all selected channels. While at least one input channel is turned on, the DCA-X, FlexDCA armed and ready to respond to a trigger, starts acquiring data on the next trigger event. Data is continuously acquired on successive trigger events (one sample point per trigger). The Run button remains lit. Run is the default acquisition mode. If waveform data does not appear on the display when in the Run mode, try the following:
  • Click Auto Scale.
  • Confirm that a signal is connected to the channel and that the channel is turned on.
  • Confirm that vertical offset is not applied and has not moved the trace off the display.
  • Confirm that the trigger conditions are valid for the signal.
 F5
Press the Single key to perform a single waveform acquisition. Each subsequent press of the Single restarts the acquisition until a complete data acquisition record is acquired. All measurements performed on the input waveforms are updated. Stops waveform acquision if FlexDCA is in the Run mode and acquires a single waveform. Single does not clear the display. To view a single waveform acquisition, press Clear followed by Single. Any measurements on the input waveforms are updated. F6
If acquisition is in the run state, new waveforms will immediately be acquired. Press Clear to erase all response data. Pressing Clear in Run mode clears the data and then acquires and displays new data. Pressing Clear in Stop mode clears the data. F7
Automatically adjusts the vertical and horizontal scale to properly display the waveform. Ctrl + Alt + A

A DCA-X's front-panel Acquisition buttons can also be used when FlexDCA is running embedded on the N1000A or 86100D.

If all the channels are turned off or a trigger event does not occur, the instrument will not acquire data.

Waveform memories and color grade-gray scale memories are not erased from the display graticule when you execute a clear display. To clear these files from the display graticule, do one of the following:

  • Click File > Color Grade-Gray Scale Memory and turn off the currently displayed waveform.
  • Click File > Waveform Memory and turn off the currently displayed waveform.