Electronic Lab Notebook Software

Features & Benefits

• Capture Waveforms and Settings from Digital Storage Oscilloscopes
• Annotate, Organize and Analyze Data
• Perform Harmonic Analysis up to 51 Harmonics
• Display Table of 22 Measurements
• Store Waveforms, Pictures, Settings and Notes
• Read TDS Floppies
• Exchange Waveforms and Data with Other Windows Application Software
• Restore Waveforms and Settings to Digital Storage Oscilloscopes
• Windows 3.1 Application

PC Software Creates an Electronic Lab Notebook

WaveStar Software version 1.3 is an enhanced Windows 3.1 application program from Tektronix that allows the user to quickly create an electronic lab notebook within their personal computer to record Tektronix Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO) measurements. The Notebook can capture waveforms and/or screen shots, related scope settings and notes. Further, WaveStar Software provides a simple link to spreadsheet and documentation software, enabling users to analyze measurement records or incorporate them within other published materials.

• Harmonic Analysis which provides a powerful tool to compute up to 51 harmonics of voltage, current or power waveforms at the touch of an icon button. Results are presented in either graphical or tabular form.
• Measurement Table which displays 22 different measurements made on a selected waveform at the touch of an icon button. If multiple waveforms are selected, the results are displayed in a side-by-side columnar format, greatly facilitating comparison and analysis.
• File Import from TDS Floppies allows previously saved bitmap (.bmp) and waveform (.isf and .wfm) files to be read from TDS floppies.
• File Export in Spreadsheet Format allows data to be exported in .csv and .xls format for analysis using other software tools.

WaveStar Software defines one complete, unique electronic notebook as one saved file. Each notebook consists of one or more sheets. A sheet is used to record an individual measurement, capture a DSO screen shot, save DSO settings or record notes about the experiment. There are four types of sheets:

• Waveforms can be viewed as plots (graphs, etc.) or as a set of data (displayed in numeric format). One or more waveforms can be captured from one or more DSOs and displayed on DSO-like graticules for visual or numerical analysis. Waveforms can be exported as .csv or .xls files.
• Pictures are images that are generally screen captures from a connected instrument. Stored in bitmap (.bmp) format.
• Settings are sent by/to the oscilloscope as a response to a DSO command (e.g., SET). Stored in readable text format, but cannot be edited.
• Notes are text files for users to add annotations to their acquisition record.

WaveStar Software can open one or more notebooks simultaneously. Waveforms, DSO settings, DSO screen shots, and notes can be copied from one sheet to another or from one notebook to another. Waveforms and settings can be restored to the DSO.

WaveStar Software uses the Windows Clipboard to exchange waveforms and data with other Windows software such as word processors, spreadsheets, and databases. For example, a screen shot bitmap picture contained in a WaveStar Software file can be transferred to Microsoft Word 6.0 using the Clipboard.

Waveform data can be viewed in graphical form, or as a list of numbers in tabular form. Waveforms in graphical form can be copied and pasted into word processing documents to write reports, prepare user manuals, or prepare service documentation. Waveforms in tabular form can be copied and pasted into spreadsheets for custom numerical analysis.

Frequently used functions can be directly accessed through controls on the main screen and the menu bar.

WaveStar Software can acquire data from most Tektronix DSOs and can be used with either the RS-232C or National Instruments GPIB 488.2 communication options.

WaveStar Software will run on an IBM PC-compatible 386 PC with a minimum of 4 MB of RAM and 5 MB of available hard disk space. However, an IBM PC-compatible 486 or greater is recommended.