08-31-2010 10:39 AM
I would like to second the motion for the "Disable Step" option.
08-31-2010 11:34 AM
@sraykens wrote:
Stability: Am I the only one who gets crashes/lockups with this software?
SigEx used to crash on me quite a bit using 3.0 but 2009 seems to be much more stable.
It would mostly crash when I was zeroing offsets; if I was actively logging data (to view my offsets), then opened the custom scale edit screen to enter the y-intercept, upon closing the custom scale window SigEx would crash.
To be honest I dont' do this anymore because I've been burned so many times. So I take that back, I dont' know if 2009 still crashes during this process. My procedure now is to change my acquisition rate waaay down, log a few seconds of data, stop acquisition, then copy and paste the signal's "average" value into the y-intercept.
"Average" as in more like a roulette wheel stopping at random- whatever number happens to be displayed when I stop acquisition is the one that I use as an offset.
This is SUCH a clunky way of zeroing offests; and becomes real fun when I have 30 channels of stick pots I need to zero.
Thanks for adding your comments BTW. I really hope SigEx picks up more momentum in the development department.
08-31-2010 03:37 PM
On the topic of Stability, if you have any reproducible hangs or crashes, please feel free to post these issues.
My recommendation is that you create a new thread in this forum with the words "crash" or "hang" somewhere in the title. Then include information like:
1) what version of SignalExpress you are using,
2) some information about the machine setup (ie, I'm using X device(s), etc)
3) and most importantly, step-by-step instruction on how to make the issue occur.
4) and optionally include a SE project. Adding a project to the post often cuts down on the step-by-step instructions where the project takes care of the setting up.
Thank you for the suggestions!
Phil
08-31-2010 05:47 PM
Good point Phil,
I think it's important we dont' derail this thread. I'd like to keep it constructive and focused.
09-02-2010 11:14 AM - edited 09-02-2010 04:28 PM
A couple new ones for today...
More Default Control: when deleting logs from the log window, it asks if you want to delete from project and disk or just from project. There is also a checkbox to always delete from disk. To avoid the loss of data I just had...I would like to see making the "just from project" available as the default...always erring on the side of saving data.
Log File metadata Project reference: I would like to suggest a line item in the .txt files that adjoin log files to show the project file used to create the log. I've had a few that were saved as the date and time...and now I'm not sure any more details. Many times I save the project file with test specifics (like ProductX_TestY_Date.seproj) to document the settings I used for everything...if the log files are left to just date and time (and then removed from the project file), I've lost my link to the original conditions tested.
09-02-2010 11:27 AM
I'll add another vote for:
Auto Zero
Somewhat automated SIGNAL INPUT RANGE min/max
09-02-2010 11:28 AM - edited 09-02-2010 11:32 AM
@sraykens wrote:
Virtual Hardware: I hope this one doesn't already exist, because I've wasted a lot of time due to it. Sometimes I'd like to "code" a project file from my desktop in my cubicle instead of in the lab or at our offsite testing location (or set it up for someone else who hasn't been trained). However, to set up any DAQmx Acquire steps in a project file, I need to at least have the NI hardware present for it to see. I'd like to be able to tell it what I'm going to use, create the project file, then send it to the computer connected to the NI hardware and test equipment to actually run the test. Right now, it searches for compatible devices for the DAQmx step and finds nothing; I want to be able to select what I am going to use.
You can...
I create virtual hardware platforms all the time at my desk for troubleshooting with NI phone support!
The Virtual hardware should now be available in MAX and will appear in the hardware list in SigEx
Hope that helps
...now if only the NI Forums had a Private Message option.
09-03-2010 09:52 AM
This is probably not a "Signal Express" improvement but more of a DAQmx improvement. Since that gets updated more frequently, here's to hoping it can get fixed.
lbf, not Pounds: In the Force (Bridge) Acquire Step Setup, you have the option of "Newtons", "Pounds", "kgf", and "Custom" (custom is grayed out) in Scaled Units. However, if I take data in "Pounds" and try to use it in DIAdem, DIAdem doesn't like it because it is looking for "lbf". I've obviously been able to get around it by creating a Custom scale that does nothing but change the units from "Pounds" to "lbf", but it's another unnecessary step (and potential headache) I'd like to see fixed. I would just like to see "lbf" as a fourth option on the Scaled Units drop down menu.
09-08-2010 11:33 AM - edited 09-08-2010 11:38 AM
We just got our Signal Express 2010 update disks and I was excited to see some new features found in the DAQmx Acquire list. Specifically the Force (Bridge) Input.
Imagine my disbelief when I tried to connect a load cell through my SCXI 1520 and got an error saying "No Supported Signals Found". I later found out that this was a new feature in DAQmx 9.1, and so only supports products with newer hardware revisions. While speaking to an Applications Engineer he said (and this was a comment he passed down from R&D), "Unfortunately, you'll need to continue to use the Custom Voltage with Excitation with any SCXI hardware".
The Custom Voltage with Excitation method is a very clunky and potentially erroneous way to condition a load cell and I was very excited to see they finally offered a simple embedded feature that allowed you to enter the mV/V sensitivty of the device without creating a custom scale every time!
The NI Applications Engineer I spoke with suggested I put in a Feature Request. So I did.
I suggest anyone working with SCXI and SigEx do the same. The fact that SigEx/SCXI does not natively support simple load cells is absolutely mind blowing.
09-09-2010 10:37 AM
Improve Renaming of Log Files: When renaming log files from within Signal Express, it doesn't rename the log file parent folder or the .txt file with meta data. When the logs are transferred to another computer and opened using another SE project file or DIAdem. It seems to be a local rename instead of a permanent version. I would like to suggest a permanent rename that removes the original name and replaces it with the new desired name.