TestDrive GUI (Interface) Controls

Mode Toolbar

The Mode toolbar is positioned at the top of the toolbox; it allows the user to select the operation mode. For more details on modes, see the Modes section of the User Guide.

Control Mode Button

The Control Mode button is the first of the Mode toolbar, it shows a hand pointing a button. Clicking this button activates the Control mode. The virtual components and sub-panel components can then be used to control the simulator.

Customize Mode Button

The Customize Mode button is the second of the Mode toolbar, it shows an arrow pointing a button. Clicking this button activates the Customize mode. The

Customize toolbar becomes available and the Signal Tree is displayed in the

customization pane.

Observe Mode Button

To be implemented.

Module and Panel Tools

Config/Panels Tab Control

The Config/Panels tab control is located at the bottom of the toolbox. Clicking the Panels tab shows the Panels group, clicking the Config tab shows the Config group.

Panels Group: Panel Buttons

This group is the first group of the Config/Panels tab control. Each of the ten first buttons of this group loads the panel assigned to them.

To assign a panel to a button, right-click the button and select Assign… from the context menu. A file browser will open allowing you to choose a panel. To release a button of its panel assignment, right-click on the button and select Unassign. To rename the button, right-click the button and select Rename… from the context menu. Type the new button name and click Ok.

Load…

This button is the last of the Panel group buttons, it opens the file browser that allows the user to select a panel and loads the selected panel.

For more information on customizing panels, see the Customize your Environment

section of the User Guide.

Config Group: Module Buttons

This group is the second of the Config/Panels tab control. Each button is associated with one of the active chassis' modules. These buttons open the module's configuration dialog box. To select the active chassis, use the Primary Chassis and Secondary Chassis radio buttons. Details about the Module Configuration dialog boxes are given in the Configuring the Modules section of the System Administrator Guide.

Module LEDs

The Module LEDs are positioned at the right of the Config/Panels tab control.

Each LED displays the status of the module associated with it, that is, the adjacent module of the Config/Panels tab control. Even when the Panel group is selected, the LEDs still display the module's status. In the TestDrive Interface, the status indicators are yellow to indicate that the communication between the Real-Time Unit and the FPGA is established; red to indicate a fault concerning this module.

Top Application Pane

Virtual LEDs

Each virtual LED displays the status of the signal assigned to it.

Right Application Pane

Virtual Switches

Each virtual switch controls the signal assigned to it.

Bottom Application Pane

Virtual Knobs

Each virtual knob controls the signal assigned to it.

Chassis toolbar

The Chassis toolbar is positioned on the toolbox, right above the Config/Panels

tab control.

Primary Chassis Radio Button

When this item is selected, the modules that are displayed in the Config group of the Config/Panels tab control are the primary chassis' modules; also, the Module LEDs reflect the primary chassis modules states.

Secondary Chassis Radio Button

When this item is selected, the modules that are displayed in the Config group of the Config/Panels tab control are the secondary chassis' modules; also, the Module LEDs reflect the secondary chassis modules states.

Status LEDs

Each LED displays the module status of the chassis associated with it. The chassis' Status LED is, yellow if one of its module LEDs is yellow, the chassis'

Status LED is red if one of its module LEDs is red.

Script Toolbar

The Script toolbar is activated in Control mode. It is positioned under the Mode toolbar, in the upper part of the toolbox. The Script toolbar allows the user to run and control a script from the TestDrive Interface. For more information on running scripts, see the Running the Simulator section of the User Guide.

Run Button

Runs the currently loaded script or resumes running of the paused script.

Stop Button

Stops the running script.

Edit Button

Clicking the Edit button opens the currently loaded script in the Python Editor. If no script is loaded, it opens the file browser allowing the user to select a script file and edits it in the Python editor.

Load Button

Opens the file browser that allows the user to select a script and loads the selected script.

Output Window Checkbox

Activates the Output window. For more details on the Output Window, see the

Running the Simulator section of the User Guide.

Customize Toolbar

The Customize toolbar is activated when the Customize mode is selected. It is positioned under the Mode toolbar, in the upper part of the toolbox. The Customize toolbar contains configuration and customization tools. For more information on customizing panels, see the Customize your Environment section of the User Guide.

Save Button

Saves the changes made to the sub-panels and application panes.

Panel Components Button

To be implemented.

Configure System Button

To be implemented.

Customization Pane

The customization pane is the rectangular section in the middle of the TestDrive Interface. It is enclosed by the toolbox and the application panes. It displays various sub-panels depending on the current task being performed. For more details on how the customization pane is used, see the Customize your Environment and Running the Simulator sections of the User Guide.

Sub-Panels

The sub-panels are various control panels that are displayed in the customization pane. They are designed with components specific to the tasks that must be performed on the simulator. TestDrive provides a certain number of templates and sample sub-panels. Panel designers can create a variety of sub-panels to help users perform their tasks. Once the sub-panels are created, users have the possibility to customize them using the Customize mode of the TestDrive Interface.

Scroll Bars

When the Customize mode is selected, a vertical and a horizontal scroll bar appear in the customization pane. They allow the user to move, vertically and horizontally inside the sub-panel currently displayed.

Signal Tree

The Signal Tree appears in the left part of the customization pane when the Customize mode is selected. The remainder of the customization pane continues to display the currently loaded sub-panel. The Signal Tree contains the signals that users can assign to different controls either in the application panes or in the sub-panels. The right pane of the Signal Tree contains aliases given to the signals by the users. For further details on how to use the Signal Tree, consult the Customizing Panels section of the User Guide.

Status Bar

The status bar is located under the customization pane. It is divided into three parts, from left to right: The Message Area, the Status Area, and the Observe Mode Status Area. For more details on the status bar, refer to the TestDrive Interface Elements section of the User Guide.

Message Area

Displays messages to the user concerning the task the software is currently performing. The arrow button next to the message area is used to display or hide the Message History display field.

History Display Field

Displays the message history. It is activated and deactivated by clicking the arrow button of the message area.

Status Area

Depending on the task being performed, the status area displays the name of the loaded script or the name of the macro being recorded.

Observe Mode Status Area

To be implemented.