Learn about the InstrumentStudio UI and InstrumentStudio project file structure so you can quickly create projects.

Overview

Figure 1. Example of a Scope Instrument

A screenshot of an oscilloscope instrument panel from InstrumentStudio.

Project File Pane

The project file panel displays all project files, such as the following:
  • Data files
  • Saved configurations
  • Scripts
  • Pin maps
  • Other supporting files
The project file panel also allows for the following file management actions:
  • Create
  • Rename
  • Delete
  • Import
  • Export
  • Search

A screenshot of the project file pane of InstrumentStudio.

Table 1. InstrumentStudio Project File Documents
File Type Description
InstrumentStudio project (.isproj) Contains the instrument panels added to your layout, device configurations, pin maps, captured data, and other project files.
Soft front panel (.sfp) Contains the settings you choose for each instrument in your layout.
Pin map (.pinmap) Defines how instruments and hardware connect to device under test (DUT) pins and sites.
Technical Data Management Stream (.tdms) Stores data created by taking a snapshot of a graph. InstrumentStudio saves these files by default in the folder that contains your project.
Portable Network Graphic (.png) An image of a graph created by taking a snapshot. InstrumentStudio saves these files by default in the folder that contains your project.

Measurements Table

The Measurements table panel allows you to quickly set up and perform common measurement tasks, such as the following:
  • Measure signal properties
  • Analyze signal characteristics
  • Perform stimulus response tests

A screenshot of the Measurements table of InstrumentStudio.

Instrument Configuration Panel

The instrument configuration panel allows you to configure instrument settings and view instrument status.


A screenshot of the instrument configuration panel of InstrumentStudio.

Instrument Settings Menu

You can access the instrument settings menu (A cogwheel icon for the instrument settings menu of InstrumentStudio.) from the top-right corner of the instrument configuration panel. The contents of the instrument settings menu depend on the panel type. The instrument settings menu allows you to do, for example, the following actions:
  • Export and import configurations
  • Capture data, which takes a screenshot of the measurement and generates a data file
  • Access device-specific actions and information
  • Add or remove devices, which opens the Edit Layout window
  • Configure debug sessions
  • Delete panels
  • Configure data sources
  • Configure panel-specific settings, such as power line frequency

Instrument Header Menu

The instrument header menu allows you to perform the following actions:
  • Stop all outputs
  • Create new instrument panels (An icon of a plus sign with a dropdown menu that creates new instrument panels in InstrumentStudio.)
  • Capture data (An icon of a bar graph that captures data in InstrumentStudio.) and screenshots (An icon of a digital camera that captures screenshots in InstrumentStudio.)
  • Edit layouts (An icon of a layout that contains one large and three small panels. You can use this button to edit layouts in InstrumentStudio.)
  • Export to TestStand (An icon of checkmark that exports settings to TestStand from InstrumentStudio.)

A screenshot of the instrument header menu in InstrumentStudio.

Measurement Graphs

The measurement graphs panel allows you to visualize data from connected instruments and interact with the graph. You can zoom, pan, and create annotations in the graphs.


A screenshot of the measurement graph of an oscilloscope panel.

Sequencer Tool

Note A teal ribbon that signals that a feature is only available with an InstrumentStudio Professional license.This feature is only available with an InstrumentStudio Professional license.
The sequencer tool allows you to do the following tasks:
  • Create and modify measurement sequences
  • View measurement panels associated with sequence steps
  • View a log that details the results of executing a sequence

A screenshot of the sequencer tool.