DIALOG: the main window, menus and settings

Find your way round the DIALOG window. Learn what each panel shows, what every menu on the navigation bar does and where the program options are.

The main window

Start DIALOG from its desktop icon or from the Influx Technology folder of the Start menu. The window has five areas:

• The database panel on the left, where you build configurations and open recordings
• The navigation bar along the top, with a menu for each group of commands
• The import tabs on the right edge, which load items from description files
• The main panel in the centre, which shows the selected item
• The message panel and status bar along the bottom

Database panel

Most of your work in DIALOG starts in the database panel. Three tabs at the top of the window switch it between its sections:

Projects (Local Projects)

Creates and manages the configurations for every logging application, grouped in projects.

Logger (Logger Structure)

Becomes active when a REBEL is connected to the PC. It shows the configuration currently in the logger and gives access to the logger's settings and features.

Analysis (Recording Analysis)

Holds the data handling and analysis features for recordings you open.

Navigation bar

The navigation bar gives access to most of DIALOG's features. What each menu offers depends on what is selected and on the state of the logger, for example whether it is online.

Configuration menu

Wizard

Builds a configuration quickly with a step-by-step wizard.

New Project

Creates a project to hold configurations.

New Configuration

Creates a configuration in the selected project.

New Bus, New Module, New Protocol

Add a bus, a module or a protocol to the configuration.

New Data List

Creates a data list: a DAQ list or a polled list.

New PID

Creates a parameter ID (PID) by hand.

Properties, Copy, Paste, Delete

Edit, copy, paste or delete the selected items.

Advanced Config menu

New/Edit Triggers

Adds triggers so the logger reacts to events.

New/Edit Output Signal

Creates messages to send to control units, instrumentation, displays or other tools.

New/Edit Conversion Table

Adds look-up tables that turn non-linear sensor readings into true values.

Message Constructor

Sets the logger to transmit CAN messages periodically or on a trigger.

Configuration Report

Writes a report on some or all of these parts of the configuration:

• Vehicle information
• Triggers
• Bus and protocol information
• PIDs
• Diagnostic addresses and CCP addresses
• Event lists
• CAN signals
• Instrumentation channels and digital channels

Project menu

New Project, Edit Project, Delete Project

Create a project, rename it or delete it.

Import Project

Imports a project into the database.

Export Selected Project, Export All Projects

Export one project, or every project on the Projects tab, to a .dpv file.

Import menu

Import Configuration

Imports a configuration into the selected project.

Recorded Data

Opens a recording for analysis or export.

Import Project

Imports a project into the database.

Load A2L, Load DBC, Load ODX, Load ROB, Load Fibex, Load LDF

Import an .a2l, .dbc, .odx, .rob, FIBEX or .ldf file and open its item selection panel (for an A2L file, ASAP Item Selection).

Export menu

Export Configuration

Exports a configuration.

Export Recorded Data

Saves data as an .ivd file.

Export Description

Exports data item descriptions as a .rob file.

Export Selected Projects, Export All Projects

Export the selected projects or all of them.

Export to CFF Filter File, Export to LAB Filter File

Export to a .cff or a .lab file.

Presets menu

Edit PID Presets

Edits the on-board diagnostics parameter IDs and diagnostic trouble code presets. See DIALOG: log UDS and OBD diagnostic data.

Edit J1939 Presets

Edits the J1939 diagnostic trouble code presets.

Table/Formula Library

Opens the Conversion Methods Library.

Show DBC Editor

Opens the built-in DBC file editor.

Logger menu

Refresh Device Structure

Loads the active configuration from the logger.

Send Configuration to the Logger

Sends the selected configuration to the logger and makes it active.

Start, Stop

Start a logger that has been stopped, or stop one that is recording.

Set Time

Sets the logger's real-time clock.

Clear Configuration

Clears the configuration in the logger.

Format SD

Formats the logger's SD card and deletes every file on it.

Settings

Shows hardware information and holds the logger's user, Wi-Fi and cellular (labelled GPRS) settings.

Reflash

Updates the logger firmware and shows diagnostic information.

For step-by-step use of these commands, see DIALOG: set the clock, format the SD card and update REBEL firmware.

Analysis menu

Add To Chart

Adds a data item to the oscilloscope.

Show Scope

Shows the oscilloscope.

Backup IVD File

Backs up IVD files.

Batch Processing

Exports many recordings to other formats at once (DIALOG Plus). See DIALOG Plus: batch processing, merging and conversion scripts.

Oscilloscope settings

Opens the oscilloscope settings window.

StreamLog menu

Settings menu

Options

Sets the general program options. See Program options.

Oscilloscope settings

Opens the oscilloscope settings window.

Logger Communication

Chooses the interface DIALOG uses to talk to the logger.

Help menu

The Help menu holds:

• The help file
• The release notes
• The REBEL driver
• The reprogramming and batch processing guides
• License manager
• About

For licences, see DIALOG: install it and activate, deactivate or move a licence.

Import tabs

The import tabs sit on the far right of the window: A2L, DBC, ODX, ROB, FIBEX and LDF. Each one loads a description file and lists its items, which you then copy into a protocol. For the DBC tab in use, see DIALOG: record raw CAN frames or DBC signals with a REBEL.

Main panel

The main panel has several display modes. By default it shows the properties of the item selected in the database panel.

Properties

The properties or summary of the selected item.

Data Items

Every data item in the selected protocol.

Live Data

The oscilloscope for data the logger is recording now (DIALOG Standard and Plus).

Message panel and status bar

The Status messages panel lists the date, time and origin of every message about the software and any connected hardware. Right-click it for these commands:

View

Chooses which data columns to show and includes show last message.

Clear message, Clear all messages

Remove the highlighted message or every message.

Save all messages

Saves the messages as .log, .doc, .xls, .html or .csv.

The status bar stays visible during every operation. From left to right it shows:

• Rebel status: whether a REBEL is connected, by any connection method.
• Modules: the number of modules in the current configuration.
• Data Items: the number of data items in the current configuration.
• Analysis File: the IVD file open in the Recording Analysis tab.

On ARM-based REBEL loggers, a configuration holds up to 10 modules and 1,000 data items.

Program options

Select Settings > Options. The Options window has six tabs: General, Data, Chart, Chart colors, Chart items and Track overlay.

General options

Number format

How numbers are displayed.

Projects Tab Options

How the Projects tab is laid out.

Update notifications

Enables or disables software update notifications.

Auto show scope

When the oscilloscope appears.

Hide heavy load dialog box on startup

Enables or disables the logger heavy load warning.

Cache folder for non local files

The folder for temporary files.

Data options

Show CAN Monitor signals in CAN Trace

Chooses which channels' signals appear in the CAN Trace window.

Preferred time precision

The time precision used for analysis and data export.

Default time format

The time format in exported CSV data.

IVD channel export pattern

How channel names are written in exported data, for example <channel name>_<bus>.

The Data tab also sets the maximum MATLAB sample count per file. It also sets whether virtual trigger channels go into MATLAB exports and whether a report appears at the end of batch processing.

Next: DIALOG: set the clock, format the SD card and update REBEL firmware.