3 impulse at a Glance

The impulse Viewer is a comprehensive tool designed to visualize and analyze signal data, such as traces, simulation outputs, and logs. It provides a user-friendly interface for managing, filtering, and exploring signals, making it an essential tool for engineers and developers working with complex data. The viewer is divided into two main areas: the Record Area and the View Area, each serving distinct purposes to streamline the analysis process.

Key Components of the impulse Viewer

1. Record Area

The Record Area, located on the left-hand side of the viewer, is the primary interface for managing signals. It allows users to load signals from files or interfaces, organize them into hierarchical structures, and apply filters to focus on specific data. This area is particularly useful for finding and preparing signals for visualization in the View Area. The Record Area consists of three main sections:

• Source Settings:
  When a file is opened in the viewer, impulse automatically selects the appropriate reader for the file type. Users can modify this selection or configure the reader to suit their needs. Configuration options often include filtering signals or restricting the time range to focus on specific data.
  
• Record Hierarchy:
  This section displays the hierarchical structure of the loaded file, including scopes, modules, and subsystems. Users can navigate through this hierarchy to locate specific signals. A checkbox labeled “All Children” allows users to apply filters not only to the direct children of a selected scope but also to all subsequent children.
  
• Graph:
  When switching to the “Graph” tab in the record area, you will find a visualization of the record hierarchy. This visualization replaces the traditional tree and source settings, providing a graphical representation of the hierarchy for better clarity and understanding.
  
• Signal Table:
  The lower part of the Record Area contains the Filtered Signal Table, which lists signals based on applied filters. Users can filter signals using:
  • Text fragments: For example, entering abc will display signals containing the text “abc”.
  • Regular expressions: Advanced filtering using patterns like ab[0-9]n? to match specific signal names.
  • Numeric expressions: Filters based on signal values, such as:
    • 0.4 < v < 2.0: Matches signals with values in the specified range.
    • v < 0x400: Matches signals with values less than 0x400.
    • v == 1000: Matches signals with values equal to 1000.

Configuring Signal Table Columns: The columns of the Signal Table can be customized to suit the user’s needs. To configure the columns:

• Open the Part Configuration menu.
• Enable or disable existing columns to show or hide specific data.
• Reorder columns by dragging them to the desired position.
• Add new columns to display additional information about the signals.

The Record Area can be toggled on or off using a toolbar button labeled Show Record Area, allowing users to maximize the workspace when needed.

2. View Area

The View Area is the primary workspace for visualizing and analyzing signals. It provides a flexible and configurable interface where users can create and manage views of their data. A “view” in impulse is a collection of signals and associated diagrams organized in a tree structure. Users can define multiple views and switch between them as needed. The View Area includes the following components:

• View Tree:
  The View Tree displays a hierarchical representation of signals and folders. Each element in the tree corresponds to a diagram on the right-hand side. Signals in the tree can represent:
  • A direct 1:1 mapping to a signal from a loaded file or interface.
  • Derived signals that combine or transform existing signals.
  • Newly created signals that can be used as sources for further combinations.
• Diagrams:
  For each signal in the tree, a corresponding diagram is displayed on the right. These diagrams are aligned along a common zoomable and scrollable axis, which can represent time, frequency, or another domain.
  
• Domain Axes:
  The impulse Viewer supports visualizing signals across multiple domains, such as time, frequency, or other custom-defined domains. Each domain has its own axis, allowing users to analyze data in different contexts simultaneously.
  
• Cursors:
  Cursors are a powerful feature for navigating and measuring within signals. Users can add multiple cursors to the diagrams to measure distances or positions.
  

Complementary Views

Sample Tables

Sample Tables provide a tabular representation of signal data, fully synchronized with the active viewer. This includes signals, cursors, and data streams. Key features of Sample Tables include:

• Synchronization: The input signal updates automatically as the viewer selection changes, and the selected sample aligns with the cursor position.
• Real-Time Updates: For streaming data, the table refreshes continuously to reflect the latest values.
• Filtering and Combination: Users can apply filters to refine results and combine multiple signals along the index order for comprehensive analysis.
• Configurable Columns and Formats: Columns and value formats can be customized to represent different data types effectively.

These features make Sample Tables an essential tool for precise monitoring, efficient debugging, and gaining deeper insights into system performance and behavior.

Sample Inspector

The Sample Inspector complements the Sample Tables by providing detailed insights into individual samples. It allows users to:

• Inspect specific sample values in detail.
• Analyze data streams and their behavior over time.
• Monitor system performance with precision.

Together, Sample Tables and the Sample Inspector enhance signal inspection, enabling users to debug efficiently and gain a deeper understanding of their data.

Customizing and Managing Functional Blocks

Each developer faces unique workflows and challenges, necessitating tailored setups for data acquisition, visualization, and analysis. impulse provides extendable and configurable functional blocks (e.g., serializers, signal processors, diagrams, views, producers, adaptors, search engines, formatters, etc.) to ensure seamless integration of all essential components.

The UI for customizing and managing these functional blocks is found throughout impulse. For example, when selecting a reader to load a file or choosing a diagram. The UI consists of two main parts: the functional block itself and, optionally, its configuration.

• Text Field: The first field is a text input where users can type the name of the functional block. As you type, the field provides suggestions based on your input.
• Edit Button: Next to the text field, there is an edit button that allows users to configure the selected functional block.
• In-Place Dialog Button: At the end of the field, there is a button to open an in-place dialog. This dialog provides a more detailed interface for selecting and configuring the functional block.

If the functional block is left blank, impulse will automatically select a default one based on the context.

Most functional blocks can be configured. The configuration can either be done directly in the UI (e.g., Dialog) or selected from a set of predefined configurations. After selecting a functional block, you can choose its configuration using the second field in the UI.

• Text Field: You can type the name of the configuration in the text field.
• Edit Button: This button allows you to modify the selected configuration.
• In-Place Dialog Button: Pressing this button opens a table displaying all available configurations, making it easier to select or customize the desired configuration.

If the configuration field is left empty, the UI will typically provide the necessary configuration options directly within the dialog as editable properties.

Workflow Example

1. Load a File:
   Open a wave, trace, or log file in the Record Area. The viewer will automatically select the appropriate reader for the file type.
2. Filter Signals:
   Use the filtering options in the Record Area to focus on specific signals. For example, apply a text fragment filter to find signals containing a particular keyword or use a numeric expression to isolate signals within a specific value range.
3. Visualize Signals:
   Drag the filtered signals into the View Area to display them as diagrams. Organize the signals into a tree structure to create a custom view.
4. Analyze Data:
   Use the zoom and scroll features to explore the signal data in detail. Add cursors to measure distances or positions within the signals. Customize the appearance of the viewer to optimize the workspace for your analysis.

Conclusion

The impulse Viewer is a versatile and powerful tool for signal visualization and analysis. Its intuitive interface, combined with advanced filtering and customization options, makes it an essential tool for engineers and developers working with complex signal data. Whether you’re analyzing simulation outputs, debugging logs, or exploring traces, the impulse Viewer provides the tools you need to gain insights quickly and efficiently.